Navigation Survey

The Lee County Department of Transportation (LCDOT) is currently completing a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study to evaluate potential improvements to the Cape Coral Bridge that connects Cape Coral Parkway in the City of Cape Coral to College Parkway in the City of Fort Myers. The PD&E Study corridor is approximately 2.3 miles in length and extends from west of the Del Prado Boulevard intersection to the McGregor Boulevard intersection in Lee County, Florida. The Cape Coral Bridge project is consistent with stated goals and policies for safe and convenient bridge crossings in the Lee County Comprehensive Plan.

The westbound bridge was constructed in 1963 and the eastbound bridge was constructed in 1989. The bridges are now 61 and 35 years old, respectively. The Cape Coral Bridges do not accommodate the projected 2045 travel demand and the existing westbound Cape Coral bridge does not meet current design standards. The existing bridges have a vertical clearance of 55 feet (ft) at the center and a horizontal clearance of 90 ft. The bridge project is not anticipated to alter the current clearance as there are other bridge constraints to the north and south of the Cape Coral bridge location.

As part of the PD&E process, Lee County assisted the U.S. Coast Guard in collecting data to determine the extent of boat use that passes beneath the Cape Coral bridges in the Caloosahatchee River by performing a Navigation survey of local residents and users. Any potential users of the Caloosahatchee River for access to and from the Gulf of Mexico or Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, were asked to fill out the survey form included and/or mail back completed forms. Information collected from this survey will be used in determining user extent, types of vessels, and purpose of travel through the waterway, results will be provided once available. The survey was open to receive responses from June 17, 2024, through September 6, 2024. The survey window has now closed.

On behalf of Lee County, thank you for your assistance with this study. If you have any questions regarding this survey, please contact Catie Neal, Environmental Project Manager, Kisinger Campo & Associates, Inc. at 813.871.5331 or navsurvey@capecoralbridgeproject.com.