$85 million SR 31 road widening project expected to be completed next year
The anticipation completion of the 4.91 miles of road widening being done on State Road 31 is expected to be finished in the spring of 2027.
The construction has a cost of $85 million.
According to the project description, the “Babcock Ranch Community Independent Special District entered a progressive design-build contract to implement the interim proposed improvements to State Road 31 from State Road 78 in Lee County to Horseshoe Road/Lake Babcock Drive in Charlotte County.”
The improvements include building a new four-land roadway east of the existing State Road 31 roadway that will tie into the existing two-lane roadway, said Florida Department of Transportation District One Director of Public Information Janella Newsome.
The new roadway will connect into the Babcock Ranch area through various different roadways.
She said State Road 31 will enter into the Babcock Ranch area through Saw Palmetto, Cypress Parkway, Lake Babcock Drive and Greenway Boulevard.
The new construction will include roundabouts at Shirley Lane, Fox Hill Road, and Lake Babcock Drive. There will also be traffic signals installed at State Road 31 and Bayshore Road, State Road 78.
There will be a restricted crossing U-Turn intersection at State Road 31 and North River Road where there will not be a four-way turn capability.
“Traffic heading west on CR-78 will need to turn right (north) on SR-31, then do a U-Turn to go south. The U-Turn has its own traffic light,” Newsome said.
There will be traffic signals installed north and south of State Road 31 and North River Road to facilitate U-Turn movement on State Road 31.
Other signals will be installed at State Road 31 and Saw Palmetto Parkway/Busbee Lane and on State Road 31 north and south of Saw Palmetto Parkway/Busbee Lane to facilitate U-Turn movements, and State Road 31 and Cypress Parkway.
She said most of the old section of State Road 31 will remain in place to access properties to the west.
“Lee and Charlotte Counties will take over the remaining old State Road 31 once construction is completed,” Newsome said and it will become access road. “The new improvements east of the existing State Road 31 roadway – in Lee and Charlotte Counties – will tie into the existing two-lane roadway.”
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com