Project Information

Manatee County is conducting a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study to identify and evaluate potential improvements along Fort Hamer Road from Upper Manatee River Road to US 301. The purpose of the study is to identify and evaluate potential improvements to this 3.8-mile segment of Fort Hamer Road. These improvements are intended to improve capacity to accommodate future travel demand projected as a result of area-wide population and employment growth. Other goals include enhancing safety conditions and accommodating multimodal activity.

Fort Hamer Road provides a crucial north-south connection across the Manatee River and is currently a two-lane undivided roadway along most of the project corridor. There are marked bicycle lanes and intermittent sidewalks, mainly along the west side of the road. This PD&E study will evaluate and document the benefits, costs, and impacts of widening this portion of Fort Hamer Road to a four-lane divided roadway. In keeping with the objectives of the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the proposed improvements may include a shared-use path to enhance bicycle and pedestrian safety and comfort. Accommodating bicycle and pedestrian activity within the corridor is particularly important given that this activity is expected to increase with the growing number of residential developments within this area.

Manatee County is conducting this PD&E study in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other federal and state laws and regulations.