Cape Coral Bridge Project Overview. More images may be found on the project website, capecoralbridgeproject.com\/project-overview.<\/p>\n
LEE COUNTY<\/p>\n
LEE COUNTY<\/p>\n
The Cape Coral Bridge replacement, an estimated $547.9 million project, could be potentially eligible for a $250 million federal grant and Lee County commissioners want to do everything they can to get it. So much so, Lee County commissioners and the county manager spoke on Tuesday at a work session about waiving the county\u2019s procurement rules to land a lobbyist who can work the legislative halls of Washington D.C. to secure the grant.<\/p>\n
The bridge replacement is the sixth-ranked project on the priority list of the Lee County Board of County Commissioners. Construction is slated to begin in 2028.<\/p>\n
Lee County Department of Transportation Director Robert Price outlined efforts to date.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have completed the planning and engineering phase of the project and design is currently at 90%,\u201d Price said. \u201cCounty lands and the county attorney\u2019s office are currently working through the right of way acquisition phase.\u201d<\/p>\n
Price said the department and a consultant are working on permitting. Final plans are expected next year.<\/p>\n
The county has applied for a federal bridge infrastructure grant of up to $250 million, which Price said is the most the county can apply for to help pay for the Cape Coral Bridge. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur hope is that we are going to get shortlisted. We should know something in the next couple of months whether we get shortlisted for that grant, and then we are going to put the full-court press on in D.C. to try and win that award,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Price said that if the county wins that full amount of the grant, the funds could also be used for a $226 million project the county has planned to widen Burnt Store Road and replace a bridge there.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were already planning to bond for the Cape Bridge. If we do receive that grant award, we are going to be able to use the additional monies to pay for Burnt Store Road,\u201d Price said.<\/p>\n
Price said the county had planned on bonds to pay for the two projects.<\/p>\n
The county\u2019s consultant is working on refining its grant application in case it doesn\u2019t receive the grant, <\/p>\n
Price said, adding the county will resubmit an application one more time is the county doesn\u2019t get the award.<\/p>\n
Lee County Commissioner David Mulicka and Commissioner Kevin Ruane said they want the county to hire a federal lobbyist to work on obtaining the grant. Commissioner Brian Hamman suggested the commissioners open up a request for proposals for lobbyists, and invite lobbying firms to make presentations to the county.<\/p>\n
Lee County Manager Dave Harner said the county commissioners could vote to waive its procurement policy and send out letters of interest for firms to present to the county. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe can bring a number of entities for discussion,\u201d Harner said. \u201cThat would make it move quicker.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harner said he would bring letters of interest to meet with federal lobbyists to the county commissioners at their April 7 meeting.<\/p>\n
Ruane suggested Lee County work with Cape Coral on lobbying Washington D.C. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve met with Cape Coral. They have certainly offered assistance as well. They do have a federal lobbyist,\u201d Ruane said.<\/p>\n
Ruane said the last time he visited Washington D.C. last year was with other local, municipal leaders.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all had lobbyists so we all kind of gangtackled.\u201d Ruane said that effort which he said was successful. <\/p>\n
Ruane said he also is planning another trip in May and wants to work with the local congressional delegation on securing the grant.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we have an opportunity for $250 million and we have to spend 10 grand a month on lobbyist services, that is pretty inexpensive insurance to make sure we are putting our best step forward,\u201d Mulicka said.<\/p>\n
The two-lane west-bound span on the Cape Coral Bridge was constructed in 1963 and is scheduled for replacement. The two-lane eastbound span was constructed in 1989 and is expandable to accommodate three lanes and a multi-use path.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bridge is structurally sound\u201d and \u201cis in good condition,\u201d Lee County spokesperson Betsy Clayton said.<\/p>\n
Though routinely inspected and well maintained, Clayton said the original span is scheduled for replacement and \u201cthe board is doing both spans as part of infrastructure planning as our county grows. This will add capacity and amenities.\u201d<\/p>\n
The project will replace both two lane bridges with two three-lane bridges to increase capacity between Cape Coral and south Fort Myers, Clayton said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe improvement will incorporate wider shoulders, lighting and a shared use path on both spans to improve traffic flow and safety for all users of the roadway network,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
On the Burnt Store project, Price said the county has already set aside approximately $25 million on acquiring property for right-of-way access and for safety improvements. The Burnt Store Road project is eighth on the county\u2019s priority list of projects.<\/p>\n
Additional information on the project can be found at capecoralbridgeproject.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n