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Original Construction Cost: $8,200,944
Project Start Date: July 2013
Completion Date: November 2015
Contractor: Woodruff and Sons, Inc.
Improvements on this 1.5 mile project included the construction of a new three-lane road from US 41 to 15th Street East and a new four-lane road from 15th Street East to 19th Street Court East. The contractor also constructed three storm water ponds and formed and poured a triple box culvert to cross Bowless Creek.
SNN News talks with Sia Mollanazar, Manatee County Public Works County Engineer Deputy Director, about the importance of the 44th Ave. extension project.
Original Construction Cost: $11,930,357
Project Start Date: January 2016
Completion Date: January 2018
Contractor: E. T. MacKenzie
Improvements on this 1.62 mile project included new construction of a four-lane roadway on 44th Avenue East through an undeveloped area extending from 19th Street Court East to 30th Street East. This project also included the construction of two single-lane roundabouts. The first roundabout is located at 27th Street East and 38th Avenue East, and the second is located at 30th Street East and 38th Street East.
Additional improvements included sidewalks on the north and south sides of 44th Avenue East; curbs, gutters, lighting, and signalization at 19th Street Court East, US 301, and 30th Street East; water main construction; and drainage and storm water improvements.
Download the project fact sheet.
Original Construction Cost: $10.4 Million
Project Start Date: March 2015
Completion Date: January 2018
Contractor: Woodruff and Sons, Inc.
Improvements on this 1.2 mile project included new construction of a four-lane roadway on 44th Avenue East extending from 30th Street East to 45th Street East, raised medians with grass and concrete curbs, five-foot sidewalks on the north and south sides of 44th Avenue East, four-foot paved bike lanes, and drainage and storm water improvements.
Additional improvements included sidewalks, curbs and gutters, and lighting and signalization at 37th Street and 44th Avenue.
Download the project fact sheet.
Construction Cost: $9.8 Million
Construction Start Date: February 2018
Completion Date: Summer 2020
Contractor: Gator Grading & Paving, LLC
Improvements to this 1.1-mile project included the widening of 45th Street East between SR 70 and 44th Avenue East from a two-lane to a four-lane roadway with grassed raised medians. The bridge deck at Gap Creek was widened to accommodate additional travel lanes. Two pedestrian bridges were constructed to provide pedestrian sidewalks. Access to the existing fire station was improved with an emergency traffic signal. Signalization was also added at the intersection of 44th Avenue East and 45th Street East.
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Project Nos. 6086960 and 6045662 (Phase I)
Final Construction Cost: $67.8 Million
Construction Start Date: May 2020
Completion Date: Substantially Complete
Contractor: Woodruff & Sons, Inc
Project Description
This project continued the extension of 44th Avenue East from 45th Street East to west of I-75. Project #5 included approximately 3.27 miles of roadway improvements and was divided into two adjacent sections. The first section began at 45th Street East, continued east across the Braden River, and ended at 44th Avenue Plaza East. The second section (referred to as Phase 1) began at 44th Avenue Plaza East and ended approximately a quarter mile west of the I-75 right-of-way.
Roadway improvements on 44th Avenue East included widening to a four-lane facility with bike lanes, divided median, curb and gutter, sidewalk, multi-use trail, street lighting, utilities, drainage infrastructure, and stormwater management systems. The bridge over the Braden River was 0.28 miles in length and included four travel lanes, shoulders, traffic railing barriers, sidewalk, multi-use trail, and utility space in the middle of the bridge deck to accommodate Manatee County utilities and street lighting.
Additionally, Morgan Johnson Road was extended south and realigned as a two-lane road to create a new signalized intersection at 44th Avenue East. The two realigned lanes of Morgan Johnson Road included a bike lane, curb and gutter, paved shoulders, sidewalk, and street lighting. The Morgan Johnson Road extension was also designed and constructed to accommodate a future widening to four lanes. The intersection of 44th Avenue East and Creekwood Boulevard also became a signalized intersection once construction was complete.
Current Activities
A dedicated right-turn lane is scheduled to be constructed at the southwest corner of 44th Avenue East and 45th Street East in early to mid-2026. The overall project is substantially complete and open to traffic
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Project No. 6045662 (Phase 2)
Final Construction Cost: $165 Million
Construction Start Date: December 2023
Completion Date: Fall 2025
Contractor: SEMA Construction, Inc
44th Ave East Extension Opened to Travelers Saturday, August 9.
For more information, visit: Manatee County Celebrates Dedication of 44th Avenue East Extension
Project Description
Project #6 (referred to as Phase 2) was the final segment of the 44th Avenue East Extension Project and included approximately 1.9 miles of new roadway. Project #6 began where Project #5 ended just west of I-75 and extended 44th Avenue East over I-75 to the existing intersection of 44th Avenue East and Solutions Lane on the east side of I-75. Lena Road was also extended approximately 0.27 miles south of the roundabout. This added section connected 44th Avenue East with the existing segment of Lena Road to the south, continuing towards SR 70. (See project graphic for location details).
The Project #6 segment of 44th Avenue East was a four-lane facility with bike lanes, divided median, curb and gutter, sidewalk, a multi-use trail, street lighting, utilities, drainage infrastructure, stormwater management systems, and a roundabout at the intersection with Lena Road. A new overpass across Interstate 75 and a bridge spanning the reclaimed lake at the existing County Southeast Water Reclamation Facility (SEWRF) were included in the project. The new segment of Lena Road connecting the 44th Avenue East roundabout and the existing Lena Road to the south was a two-lane facility with divided median, curb and gutter, sidewalk, a multi-use trail, and street lighting.
Design/Permit Status
Construction was approximately 70% complete, with minor design changes needed as various site conditions were encountered.
The following permits were approved and active:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for monitoring and mitigation of the bald eagle nests in the area.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) for the Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) application submittals and modifications.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for modifications to the project Section 404 permit.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for the aerial crossing of the I-75 right-of-way.
Land Acquisition
All land and right-of-way for 44th Avenue East and the Lena Road connection were acquired.
