BRADENTON BEACH – As crews work their way down Gulf Drive South to complete the South Bradenton Beach Gravity System Relocation Project, temporary permit parking is now in effect to accommodate residents and visitors impacted by the project.
The first of the adjacent side roads to be closed during the project is 11th Street South. Residents and guests of homes on that street will be required to park with permits on the west side of Gulf Drive South for at least the next four months.
“There are approximately 70 residential properties on 11th Street South,” Manatee County Public Works Department Strategic Manager Ogden Clark said. “Nobody will be able to drive down the road. The reason we started with 11th Street is that there are the most residences on that road.”
The sewer project will replace and relocate a portion of the gravity collection system in South Bradenton Beach that now lies on private properties to new locations within the public right of way.
Clark said the 2.5-year-long project, which was contracted in January, is slightly ahead of schedule, but that could change during the summer rainy season.
“We had originally anticipated starting on 11th Street in July, so we’re slightly ahead of that,” Clark said. “But as we start to get heavy rains, the dewatering aspect becomes more involved and will take more time.”
Currently, the reserved permit parking section is located slightly north of Eighth Street South and goes south to midway between 10th Street South and 11th Street South.
Free golf cart shuttle service will be available to those living on closed roads. The phone number to call for service is 941-269-6699.
A security guard will be checking parking permits.
Part of the designated permit-only parking area includes public parking formerly for the use of those visiting the beach. “Permit parking only” signs will be placed in the area and citations may be issued to those parking in the designated area without permits.
Beach parking will be open just north of Fifth Street South to midway between Sixth and Seventh Streets. Additional beach parking will be in the area of 13th Street South. A construction material storage zone is located between Sixth and Seventh Streets and ends at the beginning of Eighth Street. The construction work zone is located midway between 10th and 11th Streets and ends between 12th and 13th Streets.
At its May 23 meeting, the Manatee County Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution R-23-087, authorizing permit-only parking in designated parking spaces along Gulf Drive (Sixth Street South and 13th Street South) in Bradenton Beach for the project.
“The Acting County Administrator or his designee shall issue temporary parking permits for those impacted by the project construction and disseminate same to the appropriate individuals as needed and in accordance with this resolution and in the following chronological order: 1. 11th Street 2. 12th Street 3. 13th Street 4. 10th Street 5. Ninth Street 6. Eighth Street 7. Seventh Street 8. Sixth Street. Only one street at a time will be under construction and only those impacted by that particular street will be issued permits to park in the designated permit-only parking area during construction on that street.”
“The County shall temporarily change certain areas of parking along the west side of Gulf Drive South between Fifth Street and 13th Street from free parking to permit-only parking from the effective date of Resolution R-23-087 until Jan. 1, 2025,” according to Manatee County.
A copy of the resolution was mailed to the current mailing address on file with the Manatee County Property Appraiser for all properties eligible to receive a temporary parking permit.
