Public meeting for Cape Coral Bridge set for Aug. 28

The public is invited to attend an upcoming meeting about the Cape Coral Bridge Project – either in person or virtually. The meeting continues Lee County’s and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Project Development and Environment Study, which is required to happen prior to design and construction.

The Lee Board of County Commissioners is committed to planning for growth and alleviating congestion. The Cape Coral Bridge Project is a strategic priority and has been the subject of several Board workshops as well as a public meeting related to bridge and roadway approaches that was held June 20, 2023.

The Aug. 28 meeting, which is called a hearing, will be 5 to 7 p.m. at Florida Southwestern State College, Lee Campus, U Building, Room U102, 8099 College Parkway, Fort Myers, 33919. For those attending in person, there will be an open-house drop-in style format from 5 to 6 p.m., with a formal presentation at 6 p.m.

For those who want to attend virtually, registration in advance is required. Go to the project website at www.capecoralbridgeproject.com. The project team will be available for online discussion from 5 to 6 p.m., and then virtual attendees can view the 6 p.m. formal presentation and provide comment.

The PD&E study is evaluating potential improvements to the Cape Coral Bridge, which connects Cape Coral Parkway in the City of Cape Coral to College Parkway in south Fort Myers. Its purpose is to address roadway capacity and overall traffic operations to alleviate existing traffic congestion, accommodate future growth, improve safety conditions and enhance bicycle and pedestrian connectivity.

The Aug. 28 hearing is being conducted to present the preferred alternative and all analysis to date, as well as to give interested residents an opportunity to express their views concerning the location, conceptual design, and social, economic and environmental effects of the proposed improvements.

Meeting presentation materials will be posted online at the project website by Wednesday, Aug. 7. Project documents also will be available for public viewing from Aug. 7 to Sept. 11 at the Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library, 921 SW 39th Terrace, Cape Coral, FL 33914, and at Lakes Regional Library, 15290 Bass Road, Fort Myers, FL 33919.

A third option exists for those unable to attend in person or virtually. Comments can be provided through the project website or via email at [email protected]. You can also mail comments to Lee DOT (attention Vince Miller), 1500 Monroe St., Fort Myers, FL 33901. Or call 239-533-8580.

Lee County DOT is sending notices to property owners, business owners, interested persons and organizations within at least 300 feet of the project to provide the opportunity to give comments to DOT regarding this project.