Lee County DOT advises motorists to be aware of overnight traffic shift on Ortiz Avenue
Lee County Department of Transportation asks motorists on Ortiz Avenue to use caution starting Sunday night, Nov. 8, into the overnight hours and into Monday morning Nov. 9 as crews shift southbound traffic to the newly constructed lanes just south of S.R. 82 (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard) to just north of Colonial Center Drive. Northbound traffic will not be affected.
The shift is necessary as work nears near completion on the county’s Ortiz Avenue Widening Project, which is a Tier One priority of the Lee Board of County Commissioners.
During the overnight hours from 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8 to 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9, crews will shift southbound traffic onto the newly constructed southbound lanes on the west side of the corridor. Northbound traffic will remain in its current configuration. One lane of traffic will be provided in each direction, separated by a median. This will allow crews to perform finishing work on the corridor in advance of opening all four lanes to traffic.
Motorists are advised to choose alternate routes during the overnight traffic shift, if possible. Motorists using the road should use caution and pay close attention to the new stop locations before proceeding to the live lanes.
The Ortiz Avenue Widening Project increases the roadway from two lanes to four travel lanes and includes a 6-foot sidewalk on the east side of the road and a 10-foot paved trail on the west side of the road. On-road bike lanes also will be included. New street lighting will be installed, and a grass median will separate traffic. The roundabout intersection with Hanson Street will remain as is.
Construction is scheduled to be completed before the end of the year. The project cost is about $31 million.
For more information, visit the dedicated project website at ortizavewidening.com. For more information about the Lee County Department of Transportation, visit leefl.gov/Transportation.