Final 44th Avenue extension looks to reduce traffic from Bradenton to Lakewood Ranch

With a ceremonial groundbreaking, Manatee County Government officials on Monday officially launched a three-year project to extend 44th Avenue East over Interstate 75.

It is the sixth and final phase of the thoroughfare project, connecting Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and the neighborhoods in between.

It is also the most complex and expensive phase, costing an estimated $160 million.

“It’s going to be an amazing reliever for all of Manatee County,” Manatee County At-Large Commissioner Jason Bearden, said in a news release.

“This has been in the works for decades, and now we are at the point where we are going over I-75,” said Bearden.

The first phase of the 44th Avenue East extension started in 2013 between U.S. 41 and 19th Street Court East. The most recent phase included a new bridge over the Braden River, which opened in August.

44th Avenue could reduce traffic

The project has been designed to handle 36,000 vehicles per day and to reduce demand on parallel thoroughfares — State Road 64 and State Road 70 — by a combined 21,000 vehicles per day.

The final segment of the 44th Avenue East extension project includes approximately 1.9 miles of new roadway, starting just west of I-75 and extending over I-75 to the intersection of 44th Avenue East and Solutions Lane on the east side of I-75 in Lakewood Ranch.

Lena Road will also be extended about a quarter mile south of the roundabout. This added section will connect 44th Avenue East with the existing segment of Lena Road to the south.

Estimated completion date: spring 2026.

The extension of 44th Avenue East has been called many things, including Manatee County’s road “project of the decade.”

Some residents who were in the path of the project had less kind things to say, including calling it the “road to nowhere.”

In 2013, Ron Schulhofer, then the county public works director, answered critics.

“One thing I would like to get out there, it does not end at 45th (Street East),” said. “We do intend to complete it, and go all the way to Lakewood Ranch. This is a road from the beach to Lakewood Ranch,” Schulhofer said.

Crews are mobilizing heavy equipment and driving support pilings for the construction of the final segment.

The contractor, SEMA Construction, Inc., is performing excavation, clearing, and pile-driving on the west side of I-75, just north of The Ridge at Crossing Creek, and continuing to the east side of 1-75.

What’s included

The final segment of 44th Avenue East will include four lanes, plus bike lanes.

Also planned: a divided median, curb and gutter, sidewalk, a multi-use trail, street lighting, utilities, drainage infrastructure and stormwater management systems.

In addition to the Interstate 75 overpass, there will be a bridge spanning the reclaimed lake on the county’s Southeast Water Reclamation Facility property.

The new segment of Lena Road connecting the 44th Avenue East roundabout and the existing Lena Road to the south will be a two-lane road with a divided median, curb and gutter, sidewalk, a multi-use trail and street lighting.

Manatee County Government is still in the process of acquiring land for 44th Avenue East and for the Lena Road connection.

Permitting underway

▪ The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for monitoring and mitigation of the bald eagle nests in the area.

▪ The Southwest Florida Water Management District for the Environmental Resource Permit application submittal and modifications.

▪ The Florida Department of Environmental Protection for modifications to the project Section 404 permit (regulating the discharge of dredged or fill material into waterways).

▪ The Florida Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration for the aerial crossing of the I-75 right-of-way.

For more information and project updates visit https://44thaveeast.com/project-info/.