Construction Update · Fall 2026
From late August through late October 2026, crews will erect the precast concrete structure of the Douglas Parking Center at 968 Douglas Avenue. Erection began in mid-September and most of the work happens entirely on our property — no road or lane closure is needed until November 2. This page lays out every phase, the current target dates from our precast and construction team, and exactly what to expect on the road.
The finished Douglas Parking Center — southeast corner at dusk
Phase by phase
The dates below are from the Hawkins Construction erection sequence issued by the precast erector in October 2026, — the current working schedule for the job. If weather or logistics move a closure date, this page is updated and the City of Dunedin is notified before any closure begins.
Tue Sep 8 – Wed Sep 9, 2026 · 2 days
The erection crane moves to the job site and is assembled entirely within the property. Certified flaggers at the site entrance will briefly hold traffic only while a truck is actually turning in or out. Both lanes of Douglas Avenue stay open.
Thu Sep 10 – Fri Oct 30, 2026 · underway now
Erection begins September 10, building the West and Center bays — the two farthest from the road — north to south. The crane and all delivery trucks operate inside the property limits — both lanes of Douglas Avenue remain open for this entire stretch, the longest phase of the job. All work runs Monday through Friday — no weekend activity, and no precast deliveries on Saturdays or Sundays at any point in the program.
Mon Nov 2 – Wed Nov 18, 2026 · about 13 working days
The final bay sits along Douglas Avenue, so the crane needs the near lane. Barricades shift out to close one lane, and traffic alternates through the remaining 11-foot lane under certified flaggers — the road stays open in both directions, with brief waits during active picks, deliveries, and concrete pours. The closure runs about thirteen working days, Monday through Friday only, and the lane is restored as soon as the frontage bay is complete. Work zone speed is 15 MPH, the sidewalk on the project side closes with marked crossings to the east side, and all deliveries end by 3:00 PM daily.
Thu Nov 19 – Fri Nov 20, 2026 · dates being coordinated with the City
Taking the crane down requires the full width of Douglas Avenue for public safety — the only full closure of the entire project, scheduled for two days midweek. A signed detour routes traffic via Skinner Blvd., Broadway, and Main Street (see map below), pedestrian routing is maintained, and emergency services are coordinated in advance. The exact two-day window is being coordinated with the City, and both lanes reopen as soon as the crane is clear.
Fri Nov 20, 2026 — Precast erection complete · All lanes restored
Mark your calendar
Out of the entire operation, only two windows touch traffic on Douglas Avenue — and during the first one, the road never fully closes. Here’s each in plain terms, based on the draft traffic control plans prepared by Spartan Safety Services (pending City of Dunedin approval).
Nov 2 – 18
Nov 19 – 20
On Thursday–Friday, November 19–20 (dates being coordinated with the City), Douglas Avenue closes at the project site, just south of Skinner Boulevard — the stretch between Kafe Racer at the Skinner corner and The Artisan apartments — while the crane comes down. Through traffic detours via Skinner Blvd., Broadway, and Main Street in both directions. Virginia, Monroe, and Grant Streets stay open, and local access is maintained on Douglas from both directions right up to the barricades, including resident access to The Artisan. Pedestrians are routed with signed crossings. Every business on Douglas Avenue remains reachable on both days.
Schematic — not to scale. Route per the draft traffic control plan by Spartan Safety Services (rev. 7/29/26), pending City of Dunedin approval. The official signed detour posted in the field governs; if signage differs from this map, follow the signs. Both lanes reopen as soon as the crane is clear.
How the pieces get here
Every precast component travels a single, pre-validated route — physically test-driven with a loaded transport in July 2026 and coordinated with FDOT District Seven and Pinellas County. Deliveries arrive individually on a scheduled cadence, never in convoys, so trucks don't queue on public streets.
7:00 AM – 5:00 PM. All precast delivery trucks are done for the day by 3:00 PM — no oversized loads on local roads during afternoon school pickup or the evening commute. No deliveries on Saturdays or Sundays, ever — weekend events downtown see no construction traffic.
The site's western edge runs along the Pinellas Trail. Trail access and the existing trail connection are maintained throughout construction, with protective fencing separating trail users from the work. No crane picks will be made over the trail while it's open to the public.
All temporary traffic control follows FDOT Design Standards and the MUTCD: advance warning signs ahead of the work zone, variable message boards before each closure window, certified flagmen, and daily inspection of every device for the duration of any closure.
What we're building
The Douglas Parking Center is a four-story public parking garage rising at 968 Douglas Avenue — a total-precast concrete structure manufactured by Metromont and erected by Hawkins Construction, with ground-floor space reserved for a future phase of downtown activity.
The Douglas Avenue frontage — brick storefronts, awnings, and shaded sidewalks at street level, with the garage screened above.
Looking south along Douglas Avenue — the northeast corner and the pedestrian streetscape.
Aerial flyover of the completed project (49 seconds).
The bigger picture
The Douglas Parking Center is the first phase of a two-phase, family-led investment in downtown Dunedin — built first, on purpose, so the parking arrives before everything else does. Phase 2, the Main Street Exchange, follows just down the block at 830 Douglas Avenue — a short walk south along Douglas at the corner of Main Street.
Phase 1 · Douglas Parking Center
Phase 2 · Main Street Exchange
Full project details, renderings, and FAQs live at mazasdevelopment.com/mse — where you can also take the community survey and join the project mailing list for updates.
Contact us
Whether you live or run a business on Douglas Avenue, have a question about a closure date, or just want to know more about the project, send it through and we’ll get back to you. Every message goes straight to the project team.