Love them or hate them, Sarasota is rife with roundabouts—and a new addition at U.S. 41 and Gulfstream is finally set to open Saturday, Dec. 17.

The entire project, however, won't be done until 2023. Completion had previously been scheduled for around Thanksgiving, but Hurricane Ian added delays when workers and materials were diverted toward recovery efforts.

After Dec. 17, motorists will be able to use the roundabout while work along U.S. 41 approaching and exiting the project area between Main Street and Fruitville Road continues. During construction, the speed limit will be reduced to 25 miles per hour on U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Avenue.

From Dec. 13, through Dec. 15, work on U.S. 41 between Main Street and Fruitville Road is scheduled nightly and will include excavation of roadway subgrade on U.S. 41 between Gulfstream Avenue and Fruitville Road; installation of light poles on U.S. 41 between Gulfstream Avenue and Fruitville Road; video inspection of installed drainage pipes and structures throughout the project; and paving of recently completed roadway base areas on U.S. 41 between Main Street and Fruitville Road. 

Once complete, a new traffic pattern will fold the Gulfstream Avenue and U.S. 41 intersection into the roundabout configuration, and the current crossover patterns at Main Street and Sunset Drive will be removed.

Motorists are advised to seek alternative routes between 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, and 7 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, as there will be lane closures.

The $8.6 million roundabout broke ground in 2021, and is in a key location as the only ingress to St. Armands Circle, Lido and Longboat keys, where popular beaches and destinations like Mote Marine, shops and restaurants are located.

The Florida Department of Transportation anticipates that the project will be fully complete by mid-spring of 2023. 

For more on Sarasota roundabout information videos click here. For specific information on the U.S. 41 and Gulfstream project, click here.