Roadwork limits beach access

Construction near the Clearwater Memorial Causeway could cause traffic headaches for the next few weeks.

By AARON SHAROCKMAN
Published May 5, 2006

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CLEARWATER - Parts of a major Clearwater Beach road could be closed for two weeks or more, the result of a second construction mishap in the last six weeks at the same beach work site.

Much of Coronado Drive could be closed until May 24 after work crews erred in rerouting a telecommunications line around the site of the Kiran Grande hotel and condominium project, just south of the Clearwater roundabout.

Coronado is the main road heading south from the Clearwater Memorial Causeway and a major thoroughfare for both tourists and residents living on Sand Key.

City officials and local police met with Verizon officials Friday morning to discuss the length, nature and extent of the road closures, which should begin Monday. City officials said at least one lane of traffic will be allowed to flow north and south.

In March, parts of Coronado were closed for three hours when a hotel being demolished on the Kiran Grande site threatened to fall on the roadway.

Verizon crews had been rerouting 600 feet of telecommunications line around the site of the planned hotel and condominium project. The exact problem crews faced was not clear Friday morning.