FDOT Plans Early December Sand Removal on Longboat Key’s Gulf of Mexico Drive
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has scheduled sand removal for Longboat Key's Gulf of Mexico Drive (GMD) to begin in early December as part of a broader cleanup initiative. This project aims to restore the state-owned roadway, which has accumulated significant sand and debris due to recent storms, to a safer, clearer condition.
Town officials have confirmed that FDOT will oversee and fund the sand cleanup without requiring financial contributions from Longboat Key. This is part of an agreement that includes additional cleanup operations along the GMD corridor. Currently, FDOT crews are working on removing vegetation and construction debris, which is expected to be completed by Dec. 1. Once these preliminary efforts are finished, the sand removal process will begin, with dump trucks transporting the sand to Manatee County’s sifting site at Coquina Beach.
Following FDOT’s sand transfer, Manatee County will assume responsibility for the material, with plans to sift the sand for debris. Once cleaned, it may be used for beach nourishment on county-owned beaches such as Coquina Beach.
Longboat Key town officials are also working to secure FEMA funding to support future beach nourishment projects, as much of the sand on GMD will not be returned to the town’s beaches. The town commission will review initial beach impact estimates at a workshop on Nov. 12, with updates from consultants on the status of beach conditions and sand losses.
For private property owners, the town has provided guidance on sand relocation, encouraging owners to place clean sand on the right-of-way or back onto beach dunes to aid natural storm protection. The Planning, Zoning & Building Department advises that only clean sand, free from debris and meeting state quality standards, should be returned to the beach.
As cleanup continues, the town has collected approximately 29,387.5 cubic yards of debris from neighborhood roads, including significant quantities of vegetative waste.