FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Scott Gilbertson, Lee County Department of Transportation
                                        (239) 479-8580

LEE COUNTY STARTS THIS WEEK ON THREE MAJOR ROAD WIDENINGS TOTALING $18 MILLION

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 24, 2003) - Lee County's Department of Transportation has started this week on the long-planned widenings of three major roadways. They are Alico Road from U.S. 41 to I-75; Pondella Road from Orange Grove Boulevard to Pine Island Road; and Cypress Lake Drive from Summerlin Road to U.S. 41. The county contact person for these three projects is Randy Cerchie, 479-8573.

Alico Road Widening
This project will widen Alico Road from two to six lanes between U.S. 41 to Interstate 75 (2.85 miles).
Location: San Carlos Park/Three Oaks area
Cost: $12.6 million
Contractor: Phoenix Construction Services Inc.
Expected Project Duration: 22 months
Other Information: Also, improve 1.24 miles of conveyance ditch along the north side of Alico Road, construct 0.70 miles of connector ditch between Alico Road and Briarcliff/Fiddlesticks Ditch, improvements to roadside ditch along Old U.S. 41 for approximately 2,700 feet, improvements to Briarcliff/Fiddlesticks Ditch including additional culverts and a water control structure, installation of 15,800 linear feet of 36" water main, installation of 3,100 linear feet of 12" to 24" water main and new forcemain and/or watermain crossings at Phlox Drive, Capri Drive, Lee Road, Oriole Road and Three Oaks Parkway.

Pondella Road Widening
This 1.2-mile road project will add three lanes to the existing two-lane road from Orange Grove Boulevard to Pine Island Road.
Location: North Fort Myers
Cost: $3.2 Million
Contractor: Better Roads Inc.
Expected Project Duration: 8 months
Other Information: The construction will begin at the west end of the project and progress in phases to Orange Grove Boulevard at the east end. Contractors will begin drainage work and widen the north side of the roadway. Once the north side of the roadway is complete, widening will begin on the south side. New pavement is scheduled for late fall 2003 with completion of the project expected in December 2003.

Cypress Lake Drive Widening
The road project will widen 0.9 miles of Cypress Lake Drive from four lanes to six lanes, from Summerlin Road to U.S. 41. Utilities will be relocated and a new traffic signal installed at Reflection Lakes Parkway.
Location: South Fort Myers.
Cost: $1.9 million
Contractor: Florida State Underground
Expected Project Duration: 10 months

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.