At Tuesday’s Lee County Commission meeting, Commissioner Brian Hamman is set to talk about a project to improve access to Interstate 75 from Cape Coral, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion for the area’s residents. State leaders are working to secure funding for the project, which includes adding an exit off Slater Road in North Fort Myers and extending Del Prado Boulevard from Cape Coral to connect to the interstate. Jennifer Boss, a resident of North Fort Myers, expressed the need for a better connection, saying, “Bayshore to 75 in the morning takes 40 minutes. That’s insane. Traffic’s already terrible, and we’re in season now. So a trip that should take ten minutes is now taking 30 because of traffic.”Currently, drivers from North Cape Coral enter I-75 through Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers or about 12 miles north into Charlotte County. Drivers from South Cape Coral must take the Cape Coral Bridge and Daniels Parkway to reach I-75, while those in Mid Cape use Veterans Parkway and the Midpoint Bridge to Colonial Parkway.The plan aims to create a faster path from North Cape Coral, but Boss raised concerns about the proposed route, stating, “A connection between Cape Coral and 75 is needed. But Del Prado. No, because that is not meant to handle that much traffic.”On Tuesday, Lee County commissioners will discuss supporting state Rep. Mike Gialombardo and Senator Jonathan Martin in their efforts to secure funding for a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study to advance the proposed Del Prado Extension and Cape Coral I-75 interchange project. This study will examine traffic impact, environmental concerns, and feasibility. Commissioners want the county to back their efforts by adding it to Lee County’s legislative agenda.Earlier this year, Donald Scott, director of the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization, noted that even if all the necessary funding were available, the project would still be about a decade away.”If all the money was available, you’d still talk about 10 or 12 years out, and all the money is not available,” Scott said.Drivers like Boss understand the need for patience.”If you’re going to do it, do it right,” Boss said. The Lee County Commission meeting to discuss the project is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

At Tuesday’s Lee County Commission meeting, Commissioner Brian Hamman is set to talk about a project to improve access to Interstate 75 from Cape Coral, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion for the area’s residents.

State leaders are working to secure funding for the project, which includes adding an exit off Slater Road in North Fort Myers and extending Del Prado Boulevard from Cape Coral to connect to the interstate.

Jennifer Boss, a resident of North Fort Myers, expressed the need for a better connection, saying, “Bayshore to 75 in the morning takes 40 minutes. That’s insane. Traffic’s already terrible, and we’re in season now. So a trip that should take ten minutes is now taking 30 because of traffic.”

Currently, drivers from North Cape Coral enter I-75 through Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers or about 12 miles north into Charlotte County. Drivers from South Cape Coral must take the Cape Coral Bridge and Daniels Parkway to reach I-75, while those in Mid Cape use Veterans Parkway and the Midpoint Bridge to Colonial Parkway.

The plan aims to create a faster path from North Cape Coral, but Boss raised concerns about the proposed route, stating, “A connection between Cape Coral and 75 is needed. But Del Prado. No, because that is not meant to handle that much traffic.”

On Tuesday, Lee County commissioners will discuss supporting state Rep. Mike Gialombardo and Senator Jonathan Martin in their efforts to secure funding for a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study to advance the proposed Del Prado Extension and Cape Coral I-75 interchange project. This study will examine traffic impact, environmental concerns, and feasibility. Commissioners want the county to back their efforts by adding it to Lee County’s legislative agenda.

Earlier this year, Donald Scott, director of the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization, noted that even if all the necessary funding were available, the project would still be about a decade away.

“If all the money was available, you’d still talk about 10 or 12 years out, and all the money is not available,” Scott said.

Drivers like Boss understand the need for patience.

“If you’re going to do it, do it right,” Boss said.

The Lee County Commission meeting to discuss the project is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.