One of Downtown Palmetto’s most historic corridors is preparing for a long-awaited transformation.
The City of Palmetto’s 10th Avenue West Complete Streets project will bring major infrastructure and streetscape improvements to the traditional Old Main Street corridor, stretching from Riverside Drive to 17th Street West.
The project, identified by the City as Project #24-867/NH-0725, is currently in the research, planning, engineering and design phase. The work is being designed to Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) standards in preparation for future construction under a Local Agency Program (LAP) agreement.
Bid selection is anticipated in 2027, with construction expected to take approximately two years once work begins.
More Than a New Road
This project goes far beyond simply repaving 10th Avenue.
A major portion of the investment will address the aging infrastructure beneath the street, giving the City an opportunity to modernize utilities and other critical infrastructure that has served this historic part of Palmetto for decades.
Above ground, the Complete Streets project is expected to dramatically improve the appearance and function of the corridor. Planned elements include a new roadway with decorative paver details, shade trees, landscaped planters, new lampposts, new entryway signage and redesigned street parking.
The goal is to create a more attractive, walkable and functional downtown street while maintaining access for the businesses that call 10th Avenue West home.
Planning for Businesses During Construction
With a project of this size, communication with Downtown Palmetto businesses will be an important part of the planning process.
Business owners are being encouraged to provide input on issues including customer access, parking, deliveries, signage and day-to-day business operations so those concerns can be considered as construction plans and phasing are developed.
That planning is especially important when looking ahead to an estimated two-year construction period through the heart of the historic downtown business district.
A Long-Awaited Investment in Old Main Street
For longtime residents and business owners, the project represents attention that has been a long time coming.
Old Main Street has played an important role in Palmetto’s history and commercial development, yet the corridor has gone decades without the level of comprehensive infrastructure and streetscape investment now being planned.
Funding through state and FDOT resources provides Palmetto with an opportunity to address aging infrastructure while also creating a downtown environment designed for the future.
For Old Main Street, this project is about much more than new pavement, landscaping and infrastructure. It is an investment in community pride, local businesses and the identity of Downtown Palmetto. After decades of limited reinvestment, this historic corridor is finally receiving the attention it deserves. The goal is to preserve the character that makes Palmetto unique while creating a cleaner, more welcoming and more functional downtown that residents can be proud of and businesses can continue to grow in for generations to come.
Residents and business owners can follow the project, view information from the City and check for future updates on the City of Palmetto’s 10th Avenue Complete Streets project page:
https://www.palmettofl.org/1465/10th-Ave-Complete-Streets
About Jordan Chancey
For more than 20 years, Jordan Chancey has helped buyers, sellers and property owners navigate Palmetto, Parrish, Ellenton and the surrounding Manatee County market. As a sixth-generation local and longtime real estate broker, Jordan brings a deep understanding of the area, its neighborhoods, waterfront communities, development and the changes shaping its future.
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