ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — Businesses on Pass-A-Grille, the southern end of St. Pete Beach are getting restless! Construction along Pass-A-Grille Way, the main road on and off the island has been ongoing since 2015, and now city leaders say the end date for the project isn't until March 2019.
Contractors have run into one hiccup after another, causing several delays throughout the project. The biggest delay was because of blueprints for utilities under the street. The blueprints were inaccurate, causing crews to have to redig several times to avoid underground utilities.
Now, the pipe installation at 15th Ave is “more difficult than expected,” according to construction crews, because of the high water table under the island. Crews have found a solution to this issue, and the project continues on.
Recently, St. Pete Beach leaders added signs to try to direct people to the shops and restaurants to help throughout the lengthy project.
The construction project will also soon force several parking spots, used in particular by businesses at Merry Pier and the Seahorse Restaurant, to close.
Businesses say it's making a challenging situation even worse. Parking in Pass-A-Grille is always a challenge and will become more so as the tourist season arrives and spots are gulped up by construction crews.
Luckily, there are now fewer detours getting onto the island, as crews have completed the first component of the project. Drivers should now have fewer delays getting to the beach side of the island, as construction continues on the other side.
St. Pete Beach is hosting weekly meetings to keep business owners, homeowners and the public updated on the ongoing Pass-A-Grille project. The next public meeting is at 3 p.m. on February 15 at the Warren Webster Building.
