FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Mike Mulligan, Lee County Parks & Recreation, (941) 461-7427,
                Pat Moore, Lee County Department of Transportation, (941) 694-3334

FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 13, 2001) – Starting the week of September 17 (Monday), up to 30 live oak trees in the median of Cypress Lake Drive between Summerlin Road and U.S. 41 will be relocated to make way for the widening of the road.

The Lee County Departments of Transportation (DOT) and Parks & Recreation are working together to transplant the trees to various locations in Rutenberg Park and the Lee County Sports Complex.

The work will take place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily. Lee County will supply flagmen, cones and barricades as necessary during the removal of the trees. Intermittent lane closures could occur during the project.

The project is expected to take up to seven workdays, depending on weather conditions.

Cypress Lake Drive between Summerlin and U.S. 41 will be widened from four lanes to six lanes. The project is expected to cost $2.8 million and will begin in spring 2002