FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)— The Wilson Pigott Bridge will close for 10 days as crews install a new grid deck.
The Florida Department of Transportation announced the temporary full closure of the State Road 31 bridge, citing ongoing maintenance issues that have required emergency repairs nearly every month.
“The bridge needs to be replaced because almost every month or every other month, the maintenance crews have had to come out here and make emergency repairs,” said Janella Newsome, Public Information Director with FDOT District One.
No passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, buses or delivery vehicles will be permitted to cross during the closure. The work is weather-dependent and could extend beyond the 10-day estimate.
“At some point, it just can’t handle the load, the magnitude, or the volume of traffic, whether it’s the commercial vehicles or just the frequency of passengers utilizing the bridge. It’s old, it’s time, and so we just have to do the right thing, and that is to keep the community safe,” Newsome said.
FDOT officials acknowledged the inconvenience but emphasized that safety remains the top priority. The repairs are essential to ensure the long-term reliability of the bridge for all who depend on it.
Motorists should expect significant delays, with typical 20–30-minute commutes potentially taking an hour or more.
Northbound traffic heading from Naples or Fort Myers to Babcock Ranch will be detoured via Interstate 75 northbound to Exit 143 at State Road 78, then east on S.R. 78 to S.R. 31 and north to Babcock Ranch. Southbound traffic from Babcock Ranch will take S.R. 31 south to S.R. 78, then west on S.R. 78 to I-75 and south on the interstate.
Local businesses south of the bridge will remain accessible via State Road 31 from State Road 80.
“I feel good knowing that the Florida Department of Transportation is finally doing something about the bridge, even though it’s a temporary fix, but it’s a good temporary fix, at least until the new bridge can be built,” Newsome said.
FDOT is working with Lee County to manage traffic flow and reduce congestion along the detour route. Signal timing adjustments will be implemented at key intersections, including Bayshore Road and I-75, and Nalle Road and Bayshore Road.
The FDOT’s Regional Transportation Management Center will monitor traffic conditions in real time. Lee County will make additional signal timing modifications as needed.
The new grid deck is scheduled to arrive on-site before noon on Monday. Crews will begin removing the existing deck that morning, with installation of the new grid deck expected to begin later that evening.
Maritime travel will remain open during the closure, with at least one operational bridge leaf maintained at all times to provide approximately 40–45 feet of clearance for vessels. FDOT has coordinated with the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure continued safe passage.