FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Scott Gilbertson, Lee County Transportation Department
                (941) 479-8580

FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 24, 2000) – For the benefit of news editors and reporters who may want to do follow-up, in-depth or update stories, the following are ongoing and upcoming major projects of Lee County’s Department of Transportation. In all, the projects represent more than $100 million of investment in the county’s transportation network. The projects are listed in order by expected start date, or completion date if the project already is in construction.

Paving of 1.7-mile, two-lane road west of U.S. 41 to Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort. Bike path along south side of road also being added. Cost is being split with WCI.

Location: From U.S. 41 to Hyatt Hotel.

Estimated Cost: $1 million

Expected Completion Date: September 30, 2001

This 1-mile, four-lane divided roadway will connect Three Oaks Parkway at Corkscrew Road to Williams Road at the portion of Three Oaks Parkway within The Brooks that currently is under construction.

Location: From Corkscrew Road to Williams Road.

Cost: $1.9 million

Expected Completion Date: April 2002

The road project is a 1-mile, four-lane extension from the Lee/Collier County line to Bonita Beach Road. The design was completed in September 2000 and construction is underway.

Location: From Lee/Collier County line to Bonita Beach Road.

Estimated Cost: $2.8 million

Expected Completion Date: July 2002

Construction of this 3-mile extension will take Veterans Memorial Parkway from where it now ends at Surfside Boulevard west and north to Burnt Store Road. This four-lane, divided, roadway will include a signal at the intersection of Burnt Store and Pine Island roads. The project completes the Midpoint Memorial Bridge Corridor, a continuous, 30-mile roadway running from Lehigh Acres to Punta Gorda.

Location: From Surfside Boulevard west and north to Burnt Store Road.

Cost: $6.8 million

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: Orange Grove Boulevard to Pine Island Road.

Cost: $3.6 Million

Expected Project Duration: 12 months

Expected Project Duration: 12 months

The Alico Road Expansion project will widen the street from two to six lanes. The expansion site is approximately 2.8 miles and runs from U.S. 41 to Interstate 75.

Location: From U.S. 41 to Interstate 75.

Cost: $8 million for the road and $4 million for utilities.

Expected Start Date: FY 2001-02 (awaiting final permits)

Expected Project Duration: 18 months

This 4.6-mile project will add two lanes to existing two-lane arterial.

Location: San Carlos Park/Estero, from Corkscrew Road to Alico Road

Cost: $10.1 million

Expected Project Duration: 12 months

Will widen to four lanes the 1.4-mile stretch between State Road 78 and Littleton Road.

Location: Pine Island Road (SR 78) to Littleton Road.

Cost: $6.3 million

Status: Design is 90% complete; right of way is being purchased

Expected Start Date: December 2002

Expected Project Duration: 24 months

Widen to six lanes the 0.7-mile stretch from Imperial Street to I-75. Rebuild the remaining 3.5 miles from Vanderbilt Drive to Imperial Street.

Location: From West of U.S. 41 to I-75

Cost: $6.8 million

Status: Design to begin in November; right of way purchases starting Nov. 2002

Expected Start Date: October 2003

Expected Project Duration: 12 months

Will widen to six lanes from Boy Scout Road to University Drive with an overpass at College Parkway.

Location: Boy Scout Road to University Drive.

Cost: $18.7 million

Status: Design to begin in November; right of way purchases starting in Dec. 2002

Expected Start Date: December 2003

Expected Project Duration: 18 months

Will connect the segments of Palmetto Avenue, which is completed from State Road 82 (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) north to the Caloosahatchee River, but has three gaps from S.R. 82 south to Colonial Boulevard. It isn’t built between S.R. 82 and Edison Avenue; it is only half-built between Edison and Canal Street; and it doesn’t connect across the North Colonial Waterway. In addition, it is an unimproved dirt road south of Hanson Street to the North Colonial Waterway. Filling in the gaps will make the road a two-lane corridor running from Colonial to S.R. 80, with the ability to eventually expand to four lanes.

Location: From North colonial Waterway to SR 82 (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard).

Cost: $9.2 million

Expected Start Date: City of Fort Myers is designing

Expected Project Duration: City of Fort Myers is managing

This road project is a four-lane extension of Three Oaks Parkway from Alico Road to Daniels Parkway.

Location: South Fort Myers

Cost: $11.3 million

Expected Project Duration: 24 months

This road project is a four-lane extension from Bonita Bill Drive south to East Terry Street.

Location: Bonita Springs

Cost: $17.5 million

Expected Project Duration: 24 months