FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Amy Davies, Lee County Department of Transportation
              (239) 479-8589

SANIBEL CAUSEWAY: EARLY MORNING CHANGES
SHOULD HELP DELAYS

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 25, 2003) - Based on further analysis and consultation with its consulting engineers, Lee County's Department of Transportation is making changes to the early morning "overweight" vehicles transportation plan on the Sanibel Causeway that should reduce delays.

"Essential Services" and construction vehicles that have obtained overweight permits are currently allowed across the causeway bridges between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. The changes include:

• Trucks will now be allowed across the causeway at one minute, instead of six minute, intervals, however drivers must maintain a 500-foot clearance between vehicles.
• Kissinger, Campo and Associates, the consulting engineers, have determined that cars can mix with the truck traffic in both directions. Cars may now travel between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m.
• "Essential services" and construction vehicles will now be required to travel between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m.
• In addition, because of the high volume of "overweight" and "restricted load" permits to be processed, Lee DOT has revised its system for receiving the permits. To get a permit you can:
• Call 335-2852, the information hotline for Sanibel Causeway information (there is a new menu option for this).
• Starting Thursday (Mar. 27), you can print off an application and fax it to 694-3332 or submit an online application from Lee DOT's web site http://lee-county.com/public works/notes.htm
• Or you can go in person to Lee DOT Operations office in Billy's Creek Industrial Park, 5560 Zip Drive.

From I-75 take the Luckett Road exit, turn into the Billy's Creek Industrial Park, take first left and another first left and turn right on Zip Drive.

Remember, starting Mar. 31, all trucks more than three tons (empty) or with three axles or more leaving the island with loads will be required to have six-month renewable "Restricted Load" permits from Lee County's Department of Transportation to go onto Sanibel Island.

The permit requires truckers to attest to their empty and loaded weights and allows Lee DOT greater enforcement abilities if the trucker violates the restrictions. If a trucker violates the restrictions, that truck's permit will be revoked and it no longer will be allowed to cross the Causeway.