Story Tools

Holmes Beach traffic woes continue

Island motorists, particularly those in Holmes Beach and Anna Maria already weary from the innumerable detours along Gulf Drive near 50th Street in Holmes Beach the past few weeks, can expect more of the same in the next few days.

Manatee County officials say traffic on Gulf Drive in this area will have to be detoured at least twice more for the contractor to complete installation of the sewer lines on Peacock Lane.

In addition, traffic on 50th Street will have to be detoured at various times in the next few months to accommodate the installation being done by Woodruff & Sons Inc.

Steve Serbati of the Manatee County Utilities Department said the contractor is moving as fast as possible to complete the project.

"They really don't want to be out there any longer than they have to," said Serbati, but installing pipes on the Island takes longer than on the mainland because the water table is much higher, causing more flooding and pumping problems. He said the Gulf Drive detour should be finished within the next few days.

Serbati added that Woodruff & Sons expects to finish the entire project by the end of December.