FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Bill Harding, Lee County Department of Transportation
             (239) 479-8502

CITIZENS CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT ROAD PROJECTS AFFECTING THEM

FORT MYERS, Fla. (January 23, 2003) - Lee County Government has posted on its web site the reports of public workshops for upcoming road projects so that citizens in various areas can learn more about transportation projects affecting them.

The link is on the county's main web page at www.lee-county.com, "Road Workshop Summaries."

The site includes a summary and full report from recent public workshops held on various road projects. As new public workshops are scheduled, it also will list them.

The county performs a project development and environmental (PD&E) study for each of its road projects. Part of that study includes a public participation element where a public workshop is held to show initial plans, options and get feedback from those affected.

After the public workshop is held, a report is written summarizing the comments. This is what has been placed on the web site.

Public workshop summaries currently posted are:

1. Three Oaks Parkway, Southerly Alignment Study
2. Plantation/Palmetto Extension, Idlewild Street to Abbott Street
3. Plantation/Palmetto Corridor, Six Mile Cypress to Colonial Boulevard
4. Bonita Beach Road Widening, West of I-75 to Mango Street
5. Ortiz Avenue Right-of-Way Alignment Study, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to Palm Beach Blvd.

To learn about the county's road development plans, you can also go to www.lee-county.com, "Information/Media Center," and click on "Transportation Projects Update."

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 $37.2 million.