Charlotte County residents and business professionals are enjoying a smoother commute following the recent completion of the Gasparilla Road (CR 771) improvements project.
Halfacre Construction Company, the area’s oldest, most established, locally owned and operated private commercial construction company, started working on the $25 million project in July 2014. The improvements project was completed in December 2016.
The Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners, who selected Halfacre Construction for the project, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the completion of the Gasparilla Road widening project on April 13.
“This project started and finished strong,” says Jack Cox, president of Halfacre Construction Company. “Charlotte County, Jeff Keyser specifically, has been really great to work with through this very long project.”
The improvements project included widening Gasparilla Road from McCall Road (SR 776) to just south of Rotonda Boulevard East and constructing a four-lane divided roadway. During the process, 18,590 tons of asphalt was laid, 2.8 miles of concrete drainage pipes were installed and 11.5 miles of pavement stripes were painted.
The installation of sidewalks and bicycle facilities at the intersection of SR 776 and utility improvements between Rotunda Boulevard East and Cattle Dock Point Road also were done.
A 145-foot long bridge, a new utility system from Marathon Boulevard to SR 776, a new water main on the north side of SR 776 and the addition of 85 street lights, storm drain structures and storm water retention ponds also were part of the improvements project.
“Gasparilla Road was successful because we were able to spend a lot of time on pre-construction,” Jack says. “We had a great selection of subcontractors who gave us really good feedback throughout the process.”
Halfacre Construction has completed several multimillion-dollar projects in Charlotte County, including new terminals and the new administration building at the Punta Gorda Airport; a 132-foot air traffic control tower; the improvements to Cheney Road, which connects Piper Road to Innovation Way; and the 15-mile road widening of Bermont Road.
Halfacre Construction has left its mark on more than just Charlotte County, however. The company’s work can also been seen across Sarasota and Hardee Counties. In Sarasota, Halfacre Construction was responsible for improving Dr. Martin Luther King Way, Myrtle Street and the pre-construction for Cocoanut Avenue. Halfacre Construction also has been contracted for the Osprey Avenue improvements project, which is scheduled to begin in 2018.
In Hardee County, Halfacre completed improvements to Rea Road, Florida Avenue and Highway 17.