It's Spring Break and visitors are flocking to Clearwater Beach to enjoy the sun, surf and sand. Join them and you'll also see the early stages of construction that will transform the look and feel of our city. Beach Walk is a vital component to the future of the tourism industry for Pinellas County and for Clearwater. The contractor for Beach Walk is Westra Construction Corporation and they are working with Clearwater and local businesses to do everything possible to minimize effects on parking and access to the beach for residents and visitors.
Although a private contractor closed Coronado Drive this week due to the demolition of the Days Inn, Coronado Drive will not be closed due to the construction of Beach Walk. There will always be one lane of traffic open in each direction. Phase I construction is underway, and Third Street is enclosed by a chain link fence as asphalt is removed to locate utility lines. Project signs are up, and Fifth Street will close on Monday.
Two free seminars are scheduled to assist businesses during construction. The first seminar is Thursday, March 30 at 5:30 p.m., and the second is March 31 at 8 a.m. Both will be held at the Clearwater Main Library in the first floor meeting room. Experts in the field will explain how to prepare a business for construction. They will discuss programs available to assist that are provided through the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). SCORE volunteer Juan Fret will conduct the seminars. For more information, call 562-4047.
Interested parties are also invited to a Hard Hat Meeting on Tuesday, April 4, 9:30 a.m., at the Shell's Restaurant, 551 Gulf Blvd. The Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce is providing the location that is formerly the site of Leverock's. Monthly Hard Hat Meetings replace the Stakeholders Meetings that were held before the start of construction. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions at the meeting. If you have questions about the meeting, call 562-4024.
Working in partnership with the Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) we extend a warm Clearwater welcome to all who enjoy our beaches. Visit myclearwater.com/beachwalk for more information.