Council OKs Cape Coral Parkway contract
Six-laning of South Cape corridor expansion to begin as city readies for bridge rebuild
The expansion of Cape Coral Parkway gained momentum Wednesday with the city of Cape Coral awarding a contract for the six-laning project.
Ajax Paving Industries of Florida, LLC, was awarded a $2.26 million contract, plus contingency, for the Cape Coral Parkway East improvement project.
The project was awarded in the amount of $2,259,296.47 with a city-controlled contingency in the amount of $112,964.82. The duration is 210 calendar days after the notice to proceed is issued.
The project includes resurfacing and restriping the pavement between Triton Court East and just west of Cape Coral Street/Southeast 15th Avenue; removing the existing median between Triton Court East and Manor Court and constructing a longer turn lane; installing nine new signal heads on existing signal poles and mast arms; rewiring eight signalized intersections between Chiquita Boulevard and Del Prado Boulevard; installing additional signage to improve traffic guidance; removing 33 street trees within the clear distance of the new travel lanes for safety and replacing curb and gutter and paver sidewalks along the newly expanded travel lanes.
Councilmember Laurie Lehmann, who pulled the item from the consent agenda for discussion, was the sole vote against.
“I pulled it because to start the widening of Cape Coral Parkway without the bridge underway to, I am sorry, I don’t agree with that,” she said. “It is going to create chaos — six lanes going down to two to get across the bridge or coming back. I don’t see the point in it.”
Lehmann said she was told that it would encourage the county to start doing something about the bridge.
“In the MPO meeting they haven’t said anything about wanting to get moving on this. I am totally against this,” she said.
The Lee County Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution to formally adopt the planned bridge and roadway improvements, as well as a resolution to acquire additional right of way for the project in August.
At that time, construction was expected to begin in 2028 with completion to take up to four years. Four lanes of traffic will remain open throughout construction.
A new eastbound bridge will first be built south of the current eastbound bridge and will temporarily provide two lanes in each direction to maintain current travel conditions. Once traffic shifts to the new eastbound bridge, both existing bridges will be demolished.
A new westbound bridge will then be built to the north of the existing bridges. Each new bridge will accommodate three lanes of traffic and include a shared-use path.
At that time, total project costs were estimated at $185 million.
Updates on the Lee County portion of the project may be found at capecoralbridgeproject.com and capecoralbridgeproject.com.