Golden Gate Point
Association, Inc.
136 Golden Gate Point #702
Sarasota, Florida 34236
ggp@goldengatepoint.net

Golden Gate Point:

Archived Streetscape :

(10/26/09)Brick, paving and curbs are 100% complete. Landscaping is scheduled to finish November 1. Lights are on, on the south end and should be on, at the north end tonight. Power down the center is now cut off, and all units are now transfered to the underground. The poles in the center should be removed over the next few days.

(8/28/09)Bricks on the west side resume next Monday. All the concrete work in that section is finally complete. The road will again be closed on the west side, as that sections progresses to the north. Bricks will also be installed in sections at the entrance over the next couple of weeks.

Light poles are being placed and are nearing completion. Irrigation is well underway. FPL is placing wiring in the underground conduits and setting the transformers. The east half of the point is scheduled to have power completed mid September and existing overhead wiring removed. The west side will be about a month behind that.

With the irrigation in place, we can now start the landscaping which is scheduled for sometime middle of September. It will dramatically change the look of the street. If you want to snap pictures of "before landscape" you better do that soon.

 

(8/13/09) Bricks have progressed to mid-block west side (Harbor House West), and have temporarily caught up with concrete. There is a temporary concrete "termination" header installed at the end of the brick, so the road is open there.

The graphic below shows the entry portion of the project. There are three crosswalks, one on the West loop (2), one on the East loop (1), and one one the Entry leg (3).

While the balance of the concrete is being finished on the NW side (this week), bricks have "jumped" back to the NE corner (spot 1) and are being finished up to the crosswalk. That will finish this week, and bricks will resume up the west side next week.

We expect bricks to finish up the west side, to the west crosswalk (spot 2), over the next 2-3 weeks.

That will leave the entry portion to be completed over the next couple of weeks after that. We should be "bricked out" in about 5 weeks.

When the brick work reaches the entry (spot 3), it's going to be "tricky" managing traffic . There may have to be one lane with a flag man for a day or two. So watch here and we'll give you a update as to the contractors strategy for that segment.

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Landscaping is scheduled to start about September 1st. Verizon and Comcast have most of their utilities in, and are starting to switch over the building to the new lines.

FPL is scheduled to start placing their wires into the conduits (already underground) next week. They are behind. They are scheduled to have all the buildings switched over by the end of September. The existing power poles can't be removed until we are converted to the new underground service, so this is becoming a "critical" item.

FPL will concentrate on converting the "outside" of the loop first, and the interior lots second. Once the outside loop is converted, those power poles can be removed, and various portions of sidewalk that have had to be left out, can then be completed.

The interior lots, are serviced from their rear lot line, and those poles are not in the way of the streetscape construction, and therefore not on our "critical path". They will likely be removed a few weeks later, than the outside loop.

Light pole bases are being installed, and poles will actually be started to be set in the next few weeks.

Our "worst" case scenario we see at this juncture is the underground electrical work is late, precluding the removal of the existing power lines. It's possible that the power lines are being removed at just about our scheduled completion date. The contractor would then need a few more weeks (the balance of November) to tidy up those areas where they have had to hold off, as the utility poles are in the way.

However if this happens, the street, landscaping, lighting an all aspects of the project will look and feel substantially complete. As the electrical work commences, we should have a better understanding of this timing in the next couple of weeks.

 

July 4th Plans / Status

(17 June 09)

Curb work has now progressed up to mid block west side, in front of Harbor House West (226). Bricks are presently in front of La Bellasara, and will be in front of 350 building end of next week.

At the end of next week, the contractor is shutting down for a week of scheduled vacation. Friday, June 26 will be their last day of work, until after the 4th of July (they restart on July 6).

Where the bricks temporarily stop, they will pour a temporary curb allowing traffic onto the bricks from both ends for that week.

This will make is easier to use the road during the holiday. However we still don't want excess visitor traffic on our construction site during this period. We concerned with damage occurring to curbs and other infrastructure that in it's temporary condition.

On 4th of July Saturday, we are moving the "road closed, local traffic only" signs to the middle of the entry, for the "fireworks" evening. Starting about 5:00pm before the fireworks, we plan to have a guard at the entry. As a city construction side, we have the "ok" to keep traffic restricted to residents and invited guests. (in other words, we're keeping the casual visitor out from just using our area as a parking lot).

So, if you are having a fireworks party, walk down to the guard after 5:00pm on Saturday, and give him a list of your guest so he can easily let them in. If you are going in and out at this time, the guard is going to ask to see something with your address. (drivers license, tax bill, etc).

Have a great holiday

(6/17/09)Curb work has progressed now up the west side, and will be complete to mid block (Harbor House West, 226) by 6/25/09. Bricks are in front of La Bellasara, and will be about in front of 350 or Alta Mer by 6/25/09.

The contractor is then "closed" for the week of June 29-July 5. They start up again on Monday July 6. During this week the bricks will be open at both ends allowing for easier traffic.

Starting July 6, concrete curb will start being places on the northern half of the west side. (Outrigger, Harbor House, Golden Bay, Phoenix, and Vista Bay). Brick will be following right behind.

Remember, when there are curbs being placed and poured, you can't get in or out of your driveway. Same issue with brick placement. If you arrive home and find your driveway blocked, you simply park "down the street". However if you try and leave your house in the morning, and it's blocked, well......that's an issue. Our contractor is pretty good about getting you in an out, but if they have poured concrete it's really difficult.

So try and notice where the progress is, and start parking down the street.

About August the work is going to be at the main entrance. At this point Woodruff will have flag men to work the traffic. They will be doing 1/2 the entry at a time. There will be time when we only have one lane, and the flag men will work the traffic.

Bricks To Restart Monday

on 5/18/09

The replacement bricks are in town, and the contractor will start re-laying them Monday morning. They plan double crews, so should move rapidly down the street. Within a few weeks (probably 3-4) they will likely "catch up" with the concrete curbs, and then will be limited in "speed" to the pace of the concrete curb work.

So the overall schedule is not affected, as it was "paced" by the concrete work, not the bricks. It will however be very nice to starting cleaning up a major portion of the project, by getting the bricks down.

Finally, this re-install will have the main field of brick placed on a 45 degree herringbone pattern. The 90 degree prior pattern was ending up with small cuts of brick, that we and the city found objectionable. We've concluded this will be a better look.

Brick Setback

Thursday 4/23/09

Turns out there was a manufacturing issue with the bricks. They vary in dimension, making for "poor" alignment. There was a problem at the Georgia plant. The contractor has stopped laying brick, and new brick, from a North Carolina plant is on the way.

It will be here about 2 weeks, and they will start over. The contractor has "double" brick crews available, and will quickly catch up. They can lay brick faster then the concrete guys can pour curb, so the "big" schedule is not effected.

Everyone (city, contractor, sub-contractor, and Us) is disappointed, but better to fix it right now!!

 

(5/28/09) Bricks re-started on May 19th. Where bricks are being laid, the road will always be closed. So, if the bricks haven't passed your drive, come in "on the dirt". Once they pass your drive, then come in "on the bricks". While they are passing your drive, you need to park "up the street", as your drive will not be accessible. Fortunately as the street is progressing, we are gaining "defined" parking spots.

For the "larger" complexes that have two drives, the contractor is keeping one drive open, by coming past your area, (bricks and curbs) "one at a time" to maintain access.

On the fourth of July we typically have a lot of cars with the fireworks. We're asking the city if we can restrict the access to the point to residents and guests only. We're looking into "road closed" signage and even off duty police to restrict access. We may print stickers to pass out to our residents and guests, so stay tuned.

We're also going to have the contractor pour a temporary piece of concrete where ever the bricks terminate at that point to "tie them in" and then open the road, so we're not "one way in, one way out" for that day. However there will be a lot of curb "exposed", without brick or base up against it, which protects it. This makes it very easy to damage. So we don't want cars parked all over the grass, sidewalks, curbs, creating damage.

It's your street, so please help us police for damage, during this holiday.

(4/15/09) With bricks now going down for the next 3-4 months, we essentially have "one way in, and then one way back out". The contractor works long days Monday thru Thursday. The landscape contractors for the various condos, pull long trailers, and it's difficult to turn around. If you can schedule your landscape firm to come in on Fridays or Saturdays, they will have an easier time maneuvering. You also may be able to re-schedule your garbage pickup to Fridays, relieving the congestion. Thanks!

(4/13/09) This first bricks were laid at 10:00 am this morning in front of Harbor View. The road will now be closed where active brick laying is on-going. There will be an "raw" end every night, where the brick is moving "forward". This section will always be closed to traffic.

The brick will now be progressing clockwise around the circle. For most of you, as you enter the point, turn right to get home, even if that is the long way around.

Once the brick passes your drive, then when you come in the point, turn left and drive on the bricks to get home.

The bricks will be progressing around the point for about the next 3-4 months.

(4/6/09) Concrete curbs are scheduled to pour tomorrow (Tuesday) from mid block pier 550 to the south, on the west side. Access to drives closed, while the concrete cures. Please park down the street if you are in the affected area.

(3/27/09) Curbs, parking and landscape islands are poured on the NE quadrant (entry to mid block pier 550), on both sides of the road.

In the second quadrant (mid block pier 550 to La Bellasara) curbs are being poured on the east side, and will be poured on the west side over the next two weeks.

In two weeks (Monday April 13) the first bricks are scheduled to start in front of Marina View! There will be a temporary concrete curb/header poured across the road, where the bricks start. The curbs on each side serve to lock them in from movement, as does this starter header. However at the"open" end the bricks are still loose, and we can't drive on that!

While laying brick, about 100' or so of road will be closed. Then every night most of the road will be back open to the "raw end" of that days brick work. However the last 15' or so will be closed overnight to protect where the bricks stop for the day.

This means for the next few months, we will never be able to drive the full circle, as there will always be a "raw end" of brick that's open. This end point will move daily. While the daily work is in front of your home, you should park outside, as you can't get in and out the drive.

So, as that brick work passes your drive, you will drive in and out on the new brick. If the brick hasn't passed you, you will drive in and out on the dirt. You may be driving in and out the "long" way around until the "loop" is restored!

We hopping this schedule holds, and we'll be seeing our first bricks in place by the April 18 picnic. We also have solar lighted bricks being placed in the three crosswalks, near the entry. We have samples to show you at the picnic, so be sure and come.

 

(3/5/09) We poured our first curbs, sidewalks, and parking spaces today! They were poured across from Marina View, Harbor View and "northern" Pier 550, on the west half of the road. (See pdf map, Phase I, west half of road) More of that area will be poured tomorrow.

Next week the same are, but east side of the road will be poured. However at that time, the concrete will be cured on the west half, that we poured today, and there will be 16 new concrete parking spots to use, while they work on the east side.

So, Pier 550 folks, next week when they start pouring the concrete park on the opposite side of your road on the new concrete parking spaces!

(3/4/09) The first curbs pour Thursday and Friday (March 4 and 5, 2009) from the entry to mid block at pier 550. They will be pouring the curb on the westerly half of the road. The east half will be next week.

You should park your car down the street, and not in your drive. If you car is parked "inside", once they pour you will not be able to get out during the middle of the day. You can't drive across wet concrete.

By evening, the concrete will be set enough, to place steel plates across it, and you will have access. But during the day on both Thursday and Friday, there will be no driveway access.

(2/18/09)

The first of road work starts next Monday (2/23/09)! As this roadwork commences in the coming weeks, there will be necessary delays in and out of your individual driveways.

The sequence to install the new road, is:

1) Install stabilized base for curbing (short delays)
2) Pour curbing (long delays)
3) Install base for pavers (short delays)
4) Install brick pavers (very long delays)

During the base work (curbing and paving), the contractor can move equipment, to let you in or out of your driveway, but it's disruptive. The curb work, with wet concrete, is less accommodating. The brick work, once placed, can't be driven on, until "sanded", so is extremely un-forgiving.

You will want to park "up the street" during the days when road work in directly in front of your residence.

The table here is an anticipated schedule, and will be updated continuously. The contractor will also have signs made that will be moved along, showing the starting and stopping place of the next interruption.

Click here to download the PDF map of the "zones". This is a large pdf/drawing, so zoom in to see the detail. Note the graphics on the map will be updated as required, so always download a new one.

The initial curb work is starting mid-block on the east side in front of pier 550, where the drain inlet is. They start the curbs at the low point, and proceed uphill, so the road drains properly. This segment now shows up as phase I on our map. The sequence is about a week for curb, a week for road base, and bricks start after that. Right now, we simply know that for the next week, this segment will have curb work on going.

Schedule of segment closures/work:

Phase I - Curb Pour- Thur & Fri March 5 & 6 West side