Sarasota County OKs $40–$46M rebuild of North Casey Key Road, citing public-safety and FEMA reimbursement prospects

Sarasota County commissioners on Wednesday unanimously authorized a full design‑build reconstruction of two collapsed segments of North Casey Key Road, ordering staff to proceed with procurement and early material acquisition.

The county’s public‑works director, Spencer Anderson, told the board the multi‑phase project would include a temporary sheet‑pile seawall, road backfill and reconstruction of half a mile of roadway, and a granite revetment seaward of a permanent wall. Anderson said the current cost estimate is between $40 million and $46 million and that FEMA has indicated the work would be reimbursable as emergency repairs.

The authorization allows the county administrator to execute a contract with the design‑build contractor; Anderson said the county could choose a staged procurement if commissioners preferred to limit upfront exposure while securing critical materials. Commissioner Smith urged moving forward now to avoid further price escalation on steel sheet pile: “No matter what happens in Washington, the prices aren't coming down,” he said.

Commissioners stressed the project's urgency after multiple storm events left the roadway unstable and caused vehicle‑safety incidents. Commissioner Mast thanked staff for outreach to residents and described the project as a necessary investment in public safety and resilience. The motion to authorize Option 1, the full project authorization, passed unanimously.

Next steps include continued permitting with local, state and federal agencies, ordering lead materials as appropriate, and returning to the board with contract documents and implementation details.