Beach Walk Construction Updateprovided by the City of ClearwaterProgress continues ahead of schedule on Beach Walk, and we invite you to see it for yourself. The sand on the beach is soft and warm, and just as beautiful as ever. Many businesses are open and eager to serve beachgoers. While Gulfview Boulevard is closed south of the Pier 60 parking lot, businesses are accessible from Coronado Drive. South Gulfview Boulevard near the Sand Key Bridge is temporarily closed while critical sanitary pipes are repaired. Work there will be finished, and the road reopened, before Spring Break starts. Clearwater expects to have work completed on South Gulfview Boulevard in May, at which time the road and pedestrian walkways will be opened fully for the public. The only portion of the east side promenade that will remain closed is in front of the Hyatt Aqualea construction site. There will be one northbound lane and one southbound lane open for traffic, the final configuration of the road. Once Gulfview Boulevard is open, work will return for a short time on Coronado Drive, where on-street parking, final asphalt and additional lighting will be completed. This is expected to take 2-3 months. Pedestrian access to the beach will be moving from Britts to Fifth Street in about one week. The beachside promenade is currently open from Pier 60 to the Barefoot Beach House. Within the Phase III area, concrete is in place for the remainder of the beachside promenade. Electrical work is ongoing for remaining sections of Phase III. The 2-inch structural course of asphalt is finished for the remainder of Phase III. Concrete for curbs and sidewalks was poured and landscaping is being installed. Construction on two frontage roads continues as does storm work at the Bayway/Gulfview intersection. Sand volleyball courts have been replaced and reopened south of Pier 60. Showers along the promenade are working. Decorative touches will be added at a later date. The next Beach Walk Hard Hat Meeting will be 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, March 4, at the Hilton Resort Clearwater Beach, 400 Mandalay Ave. The targeted date for substantial completion of the Beach Walk project is before Super Bowl 2009, but work should be done in July, well ahead of schedule. Visit www.myclearwater.com/beachwalk for more information or call 562-4681. |