Sarasota County to add 6-foot pedestrian lane on Legacy Trail to reduce walker–biker conflicts

Shelley Walters, with Sarasota County Capital Projects, and Craig Pike, construction project manager with Capital Projects, gave an on-site update about work on the Legacy Trail on Thursday.

The county is building the Legacy Trail Extension Bifurcated Trail, a new pedestrian-only path that will run parallel to the existing multi-use trail, Pike said. "The new path is gonna be 6 foot wide, separated by this 4 foot grass median," he said, adding that the change is intended "to reduce conflict between pedestrians and bicyclists."

Walters asked about recent activity on the corridor; Pike said crews have completed paving the new segment between Beneva Road and Tuttle Avenue and are laying fresh sod along both sides of that section. "The crew is placing fresh sod on both sides of the trail, as we speak," he said, and the contractor will return for a final cleanup once work in the area is finished.

Crews have moved to the other side of Tuttle Avenue to prepare the next segment of trail between Tuttle and Shade Avenue, Pike said. He also told users the existing trail will remain open during construction and asked that pedestrians and bicyclists "exercise caution" around work crews.

Asked about timing, Pike said the project is "on target for completion in early spring 2026." Walters closed the update by directing the public to the county website for details and the Sarasota County contact center for assistance.

For more information, Sarasota County posts project updates on its public website and maintains a contact center at 311 for in-county residents; the county phone number for callers outside the county is (941) 861-5000.