FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Bill Harding, Lee County Department of Transportation
                (941) 479-8502

FORT MYERS, Fla. (January 17, 2002) – Truckers who cross the Matlacha Bridge and need a free overweight permit can now print one off at the Lee County Department of Transportation’s web page http://www.lee-county.com/publicworks/DOTitle.htm.

The web site also offers a number of other applications and resources for residents, including:

Request for Action – Submit a request online to have the county fix a road, traffic light or roadway drainage problem.

Traffic Counts – Get the latest traffic counts for key road stretches and intersections throughout the county.

Benchmarks – Access a database of horizontal and vertical control points (benchmarks) for surveyors.

Project Updates – View recent road and bridge construction updates.

Adopt-A-Road – Apply to join this worthwhile litter control program.

Reports/Studies – Read recent reports and studies on Lee County Transportation projects and plans.

In December after an inspection report, Lee DOT posted the Matlacha Bridge for a 15 ton load limit on the recommendation of its consultant. The department is in the process of obtaining quotes for critical repairs and once those repairs are made it will have the load rating on the bridge reevaluated. It also in the process of preparing a scope of services to advertise for a design consultant to evaluate and prepare a design/rehabilitation plan for the structure that will address long-range concerns.

In the mean time, DOT is issuing (free) overweight permits for standard load (40-ton) trucks to cross the structure one vehicle at a time only at a constant speed of 10 miles per hour. For permit information or questions, please contact Betsy Rowan at 479-8511. The completed permit applications can be faxed to 479-8520 or mailed to Lee County Department of Transportation, 3^rd Floor, 1500 Monroe Street, Fort Myers, FL, 33901.

Lee County’s Transportation Department plans, builds, expands and maintains county roads, bridges, ditches and landscaping in the unincorporated areas of Lee County. It also maintains the county traffic signal system and operates the toll facilities on the Midpoint Memorial, Cape Coral and Sanibel Causeway bridges. It employs 374 and has an annual operating budget of $32.9 million.