Big changes are coming to the Cape Coral Bridge, but time is running out to share your thoughts. Lee County’s survey on the toll bridges closes Friday, giving drivers a final chance to weigh in on the toll bridges before construction starts. Driving over the Cape Coral Bridge can often feel more like a standstill than a shortcut. “I’ll go over there, like this time of day when it’s like 8:00 in the morning, and trying to come back can be slightly congested,” said Fort Myers resident Jeff Balyeat. This is one of the largest projects Lee County has ever undertaken.The project will replace the aging bridge connecting Cape Coral Parkway to College Parkway in Fort Myers.Right now, there are two lanes each way. The goal is to add a third lane in both directions. Construction is set to start in 2028. “It’s a great project. I’m sure they’ll have a plan in place to make it function. You can’t just shut a bridge down,” said Balyeat. Before construction starts, the Lee County Department of Transportation wants to hear from the Lee Way customers they reached out to on how to use the Lee County toll bridges.The survey is designed to identify customer travel patterns on the toll bridges. It is also a required component of an investment-grade traffic and revenue study, which will support potential future financing for the construction phase. “Right now we’re just going through the process that we have to go through to identify the funding, and we don’t know any answer as to whether or not there’s going to be an increase,” said Robert Price, the director of the Lee County Department of Transportation.The county’s goal is to get a minimum of 1,000 surveys from drivers. 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.

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

Big changes are coming to the Cape Coral Bridge, but time is running out to share your thoughts.

Lee County’s survey on the toll bridges closes Friday, giving drivers a final chance to weigh in on the toll bridges before construction starts.

Driving over the Cape Coral Bridge can often feel more like a standstill than a shortcut.

“I’ll go over there, like this time of day when it’s like 8:00 in the morning, and trying to come back can be slightly congested,” said Fort Myers resident Jeff Balyeat.

This is one of the largest projects Lee County has ever undertaken.

The project will replace the aging bridge connecting Cape Coral Parkway to College Parkway in Fort Myers.

Right now, there are two lanes each way. The goal is to add a third lane in both directions.

Construction is set to start in 2028.

“It’s a great project. I’m sure they’ll have a plan in place to make it function. You can’t just shut a bridge down,” said Balyeat.

Before construction starts, the Lee County Department of Transportation wants to hear from the Lee Way customers they reached out to on how to use the Lee County toll bridges.

The survey is designed to identify customer travel patterns on the toll bridges.

It is also a required component of an investment-grade traffic and revenue study, which will support potential future financing for the construction phase.

“Right now we’re just going through the process that we have to go through to identify the funding, and we don’t know any answer as to whether or not there’s going to be an increase,” said Robert Price, the director of the Lee County Department of Transportation.

The county’s goal is to get a minimum of 1,000 surveys from drivers.

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.