Roads Clear Despite Crashes: Sarasota, Bradenton Traffic

SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FL — Good morning, Patch readers in the Sarasota and Bradenton areas!

Before you start your day, check out the latest Patch traffic report for the region.

Here are the latest traffic updates that could affect your morning commute on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.

Use the Waze map to zoom in on your commute for real-time traffic updates. Scroll down past the map for major incidents and closures in your area.

On the Road

As of 7:10 a.m., roads are clear after a vehicle crash with injuries at Da Vinci Drive and Rubens Drive, according to the Florida Highway Patrol Live Traffic Crash and Road Condition Report. (Nokomis)

As of 7:12, there’s a vehicle crash on Proctor Road at Atlantic Avenue. No roads are blocked, FHP said. (Sarasota)

As of 7:13 a.m., there’s a vehicle crash on Cortez Road W. at 14th Street W. No roads are blocked, according to FHP. (Bradenton)

Ongoing Construction

Construction in DeSoto County is slowing traffic in Arcadia. The eastbound right lane of State Road 70 is blocked from N. Lee Avenue to N. Manatee Avenue, FHP said. (Arcadia)

A roundabout is under construction at the Shoppes at UTC. It will add an additional eastbound turn lane from Cooper Creek Boulevard onto University Parkway, according to Observer Media Group. It will also replace the traffic light just north of that intersection with a roundabout. During construction, which should end Nov. 4, those leaving the Shoppes at Tourist Center Drive will be unable to make a left turn or cross the roadway. (Sarasota)

In a tweet, the city of Sarasota asked drivers to be mindful of signage and pavement striping on Ringling Boulevard as the Ringling Trail remains under construction. Phase I from U.S. 301 to Lime Avenue is wrapping up and a protected bike lane connection to the Legacy Trail will open by the end of September. (Sarasota)

Packinghouse Road at Cattlemen Road to 600 feet south remains closed during Phase II of a roadway improvement project that includes the installation of the road base, concrete curb and gutter, and asphalt pavement, according to Sarasota County documents. Motorists should expect delays as one-lane flagging operations continue between the hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and use extreme caution while traveling through work areas. The phase should be completed by January. (Sarasota County)

A reconfiguration of I-75 at the U.S. 301 interchange and a widening of I-75 from State Road 64 to Manatee River is impacting traffic in the area, according to the Manatee County website. This week, crews will work on embankment and widening on I-75, and pile driving for the construction of the new southbound on-ramp bridge over the Manatee River and Salt Marsh Bridge. During the morning commute, motorists should expect lane closures on U.S. 301 through the duration of the construction. Drivers should also expect lane shifts on I-75 and US 301 through the duration of the construction. (Ellenton)

On U.S. 41 between Palm View Road to north of Lakeside Boulevard, drivers can expect alternating north and southbound lane closures from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. while crews construct a median opening, right turn lane, driveway access, drainage structures and a sidewalk for an RV park, the county said. (Manatee County)

On U.S. 301 from 60th Avenue East to Erie Road/Old Tampa Road, crews are preparing for two drilled shaft installations and drivers can expect construction vehicles in and out of the right-of-way limits and temporary lane closures, the county said. Right turn lanes at the intersection of Erie Road and Old Tampa Road may be closed. (Ellenton)

At U.S. 301 and Fort Hamer Road, county crews are installing a sewer main and constructing a right turn lane. Motorists can expect lane closures on the north side of U.S. 301 and the outside westbound lane on U.S. 301 and Fort Hamer Road, the county said. (Parrish)

On State Road 70 from Curtis Road to Countyline Road, crews will begin work on resurfacing the nearly 2-mile stretch of roadway. Crews will be shifting into 24-hour work plans with single-lane traffic. Use caution in the construction zone and expect flagging operations, the county said. (Myakka City)

There will be an outside westbound lane closure on State Road 64 from Cypress Wind Boulevard to Cordova Drive through September. Florida Power & Light will be replacing and installing new poles, the county said. (Manatee County)

Sarasota and Bradenton Weather

Skies are partly cloudy in Sarasota and Manatee counties as of 7:22 a.m., on Friday.

The temperature is currently 76 degrees in Sarasota, according to the AccuWeather forecast for the area. The high today will be 88 with a low of 74.

In Bradenton, the temperature is currently 75 degrees, AccuWeather said. The area will see a high of 87 and a low of 76.

The region will be humid today and a stray thunderstorm will roll through this afternoon with another storm this evening.

Missing in Bradenton

A 16-year-old boy ran away from his home in the 1800 block of Martin Luther King Ave. E. in Bradenton Monday, the Bradenton Police Department said.

Traivan Ortez Whitfield stands 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs about 100 pounds. He was last seen wearing an orange and turquoise shirt, blue jeans, and Tommy Hilfiger said.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 941-932-9300.