The newly built nearly two-mile corridor between I-75 and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard received the Transportation – over $75 million Project of the Year Award from the American Public Works Association (APWA) Florida Chapter. This award recognizes projects that demonstrate community involvement, safety compliance, construction management and significant public benefit.
Manatee County’s Public Works Department worked with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to complete the final project component. EXP provided Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) services to deliver quality assurance oversight and ensure regulatory compliance. In particular, EXP coordinated I-75 nighttime detours and the erection of steel bridge girders and concrete deck construction for increased support, participated in community safety meetings and conducted daily hazard analysis.
“EXP’s team is proud to have been a part of an impactful and successful project,” Senior Vice President, US Transportation South Anthony Caruso said. “The planning, design, engineering and construction of this corridor were executed with precision to provide greater ease of travel.”
The 44th Avenue East Extension is an east-west travel route to better connect the community and improve transportation efficiency. It’s designed to accommodate pedestrians and vehicles, with bike lanes, sidewalks, trails and four lanes to limit traffic congestion. As Manatee County grows, this corridor will expedite travel and reduce dependence on interstate interchanges.
“The Final Link connecting Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch marks the completion of an initiative that’s been in the works for five decades,” Manatee County Public Works Senior Project Engineer Al Neumann, P.E. said. “These advancements increase transportation capacity by 36,000 vehicles per day and will benefit the County for decades to come by providing a direct link between the Gulf beaches and the rapidly growing Lake Wood Ranch areas east of I-75.”
Learn more about EXP’s contributions to this award-winning project.