LONGBOAT KEY, Fla. — The roadway connecting Longboat Key to Sarasota and Manatee counties has long been known as “Gulf of Mexico Drive,” but all signs reflecting that name are officially being taken down.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is in the process of removing signs that reference “Gulf of Mexico” on State Road 789, according to the town.
It comes after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills into law earlier this year, aimed at carrying out President Donald Trump’s directive to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. That includes references in Florida statutes (HB 575), as well as geographical materials (HB 549).
Will the removal of “Gulf of Mexico” roadway signs impact addresses?
According to a fact sheet from Longboat Key, this action does not formally change the local name of the roadway. The legal mailing address will only change if a new name is approved by the town’s commission…