FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Scott Gilbertson, Lee County Department of Transportation (941) 479-8580,
                or Dave Loveland, 479-8509

LEE RECEIVES MORE STATE FUNDING FOR NEW/EXPANDED ROADS

FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 15, 2001) – Lee County has received another $4.9 million in road construction grants – bringing to $48.1 million the amount the county has received in transportation grants and loans during the past two years. In all, the projects will add 14 new lanes of North-South roadway in central Lee County, helping to relieve congestion in that fast growing part of the county.

The county’s Transportation Department was notified this week by the Florida Department of Transportation that the county has been approved for partial funding (35%) for two road projects through the state’s County Incentive Grant Program. The projects, slated for construction in 2002-03, are:

• $2.137 million (35% match) for the two-lane extension of Palmetto Ave., a joint project with Fort Myers.

• $2.804 million (35% match) for the four-lane widening of Three Oaks Parkway from Alico to Corkscrew.

The Florida Department of Transportation is scheduled to receive, through Florida’s Transportation Outreach Program, which funds major highway improvements and public transportation projects throughout the state, $15 million for the extension of Metro Parkway south to U.S. 41, and the county is programmed to receive $4 million for the extension of Treeline Avenue near Southwest Florida International Airport and between Alico Road and Daniels Parkway. The funds are included in the state budget.

Last year, $7.7 million of County Incentive Grant funds were allotted to Lee County for the following projects:

• $2.730 million (35% match) for the four-lane extension of Three Oaks Parkway from north of Alico Road to Daniels Parkway. Funds are for construction in fiscal year 2000-01.

• $672,000 (35% match) for the four-lane extension of Three Oaks Parkway south from Corkscrew Road to Williams Road. Funds are for construction in fiscal year 2000-01.

• $1.132 million (35% match) for the four-lane connection of Livingston Road and Imperial Street, from the Collier County line to Bonita Beach Road. Funds are for construction in fiscal year 2000-01.

• $3.125 million (50% match) for the widening to four lanes of Business 41 in North Fort Myers from Marianna Avenue to Littleton Road. Funds are for construction in fiscal year 2001-02.

And through the state-funded State Infrastructure Bank Program, the county last year received a $6-million, no-interest loan for the four-lane extension of Veterans Memorial Parkway from where it now ends at Surfside Boulevard west to Burnt Store Road, and $10.5 million for the Metro Parkway Extension.