As the orange barrels disappear from the Country Club Shores section of Gulf of Mexico Drive (GMD) this month, residents are getting their first real-world glimpse of a much larger vision. The newly installed center turn lanes and curbed medians are not just a standalone improvement—they are the “proof of concept” for a 10-mile transformation of the island’s main artery known as the “Complete Streets” initiative.
The completion of this 0.84-mile segment marks a tangible start to a long-term corridor plan designed to change how people move through Longboat Key. The goal is simple but ambitious: to turn GMD from a simple highway into a safer, more aesthetic multi-modal boulevard that serves pedestrians and cyclists just as well as it serves motorists.
Beyond the Pavement
“Complete Streets” is an urban design philosophy that ensures roadways are safe and accessible for all users, regardless of age or ability. For Longboat Key, this means moving away from the “one-road-in, one-road-out” highway feel and creating a “sense of place” befitting a premier residential community.
Town Manager Howard Tipton and local officials have long championed the project to address three critical needs:
1. Safety: Slowing traffic and reducing conflicts between cars, bikes, and walkers.
2. Aesthetics: Burying utilities and adding consistent landscaping to beautify the corridor.
3. Resiliency: improving drainage and elevating improved sections to withstand future storms.
The full vision for the 10-mile stretch includes widening the multi-use path to 12 feet on one side (likely the east), installing 7-foot buffered bike lanes, and adding raised landscaped medians throughout the island to calm traffic.
What’s Coming Next: The Broadway Roundabout
With the Country Club Shores segment wrapping up, attention now shifts north to the intersection of Broadway Street and GMD.
This site is slated to become the island’s first roundabout. Town Commissioners moved the project forward late last year, approving funding for necessary utility relocations. The roundabout is designed not only to improve traffic flow at the north end but also to serve as a safer gateway for pedestrians accessing the beach and the Whitney Beach Plaza area.
According to the latest timeline, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), which is funding the bulk of the construction, is expected to advertise for construction bids in July 2026.
The Long Road Ahead
Residents should view the Complete Streets initiative as a marathon, not a sprint. The total overhaul is estimated to cost upwards of $30 million and will be completed in segments over several years to minimize disruption and manage costs.
Currently, a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study is underway for the remainder of the corridor. This critical study, expected to conclude by mid-2026, analyzes environmental impacts and determines if the Town has enough right-of-way to widen paths without acquiring private land—a key factor that will shape the final design.
For now, the Town invites residents to drive, bike, or walk the newly finished segment at Country Club Shores to see the future of Longboat Key’s infrastructure firsthand.
