FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    John Davis or Steve Jansen, Traffic Section, Lee County DOT
                (941) 694-7600

FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 25, 2001) – Lee County is conducting a six-day traffic light test on southbound San Carlos Boulevard near Matanzas Pass Bridge to see traffic flow can be improved by using an alternating signal.

The test period will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from June 29 through July 4. During the night, the signal will be programmed to operate normally. Here are the details:

San Carlos Boulevard narrows from two southbound lanes to one as it crosses the Matanzas Pass Bridge. This results in a merging traffic situation between Prescott Street and Main Street because most drivers are aware of the merge and move into the left lane north of Prescott Street.

The problem this leads to is long traffic queues in the left lane while the right lane is only lightly used. An alternating traffic signal plan for the two lanes is intended to control the merging traffic and reduce the length of the line of cars by encouraging more equal use of both southbound lanes at Prescott Street.

If the plan is successful, gridlock and time waiting in traffic would be reduced and more cars would ultimately be served on Estero Boulevard.

The traffic signal is being modified to have five traffic signal heads on the mast arm:

• The two rightmost signal heads will control the right hand through lane, the two left signal heads will control the left hand though lane, and the leftmost signal head will control the left turns. A barrier will separate the two southbound through lanes.

• First, the two left signal heads will be green and the two right signal heads will be red, and left lane traffic will proceed while the right lane is stopped.

• Second, the two right signal heads will be green and the two left signal heads will be red, and the right lane traffic will proceed while the left lane is stopped.

• Third, the side street traffic will be served.