FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

LEE COUNTY ROAD PROJECTS UPDATE

FORT MYERS, Fla. (October 9, 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 $33 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.

Daniels Parkway Extension

This 3.25-mile, four-lane divided road extension will open up Lehigh Acres to South Lee County, including important access to Southwest Florida International Airport and Florida Gulf Coast University.

Location: The extension will connect Daniels Parkway where it currently ends just south of the Gateway community to State Road 82 and Gunnery Road in Lehigh Acres.

Cost: $6.5 million

Expected Completion Date: November 2000

Three Oaks Parkway Extension

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: $1.4 million

Expected Start Date: January 2001

Expected Project Duration: 8 months

Leeland Heights Boulevard Widening

This road project will widen 0.45 miles of a two-lane divided roadway to a four-lane divided highway from Homestead Blvd. to Lee Blvd. The design was completed July 2000 and construction will begin November 1, 2000.

Location: From Homestead Blvd to Lee Blvd.

Cost: $1.3 million

Expected Completion Date: February 2001

Lee Boulevard Expansion

This is a 0.9-mile continuation of the widening of Lee Boulevard. The portion from Homestead Road to Williams Road will be widened to four lanes and from Williams Road to Leeland Heights Boulevard will be widened to three lanes and sidewalks added.

Location: Homestead Road to Leeland Heights Boulevard.

Cost: $1.7 million

Expected Start Date: March 2001

Expected Project Duration: 5 months

Livingston Road Extension

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 the construction is underway.

Location: From Lee/Collier County line to Bonita Blvd.

Estimated Cost: $2.8 million

Expected Completion Date: March 2001

Alico Road Widening

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: April 2001

Expected Project Duration: 18 months

Corkscrew Road Widening

This existing 5,000-foot stretch of two-lane road will be expanded to a four-lane divided road.

Location: From east of Ben Hill Griffin Parkway to east of the Pinewoods Elementary School entrance.

Cost: $1.4 million

Expected Start Date: June 2001

Expected Project Duration: 6 months

Cypress Lake Drive Expansion

The road project will widen 0.9 miles of Cypress Lake Drive from four lanes to six lanes. The expansion runs from Summerlin Road to U.S. 41.

Location: From Summerlin Road to U.S. 41.

Cost: $2.7 million

Expected Start Date: June 2001

Expected Project Duration: 6 months

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: Orange Grove Boulevard to Pine Island Road.

Cost: $3.6 Million

Expected Start Date: October 2001

Expected Project Duration: 7 months