Construction giving the Matanzas Pass Bridge and San Carlos Blvd. on Fort Myers Beach a $13 million makeover, starts Monday.
In hopes of making your commute to the beach easier and safer, part of FDOT's plan is to open up the bus/bike-only lane so drivers can use it during the offseason, as well as expand the walkway for bicyclists and pedestrians.
There will be several upgrades to crosswalks, traffic signals and lights. Some include installing a new traffic signal at the Main Street intersection and replacing the alternating light at Prescott St. and Buttonwood Dr. with a conventional light.
A new crosswalk and a traffic light will be part of the improvements at the intersection as you get off the bridge near Fifth Street, in an effort to improve traffic flow and cut down on jaywalking in this busy area.
"During season if I get off of work at twelve o'clock or, one o'clock in the morning, I have to get up at five or six in the morning to get ready and sit in traffic for two hours," said Gabe Vanfossen, a bartender at Doc Ford's who lives in North Cape Coral. "Definitely opening up that bus lane, will help with traffic a lot. Most of the time it's just empty."
San Carlos Blvd. from Main Street to Hurricane Pass Bridge will be restriped to allow for bike lanes in both directions. Some of the road is expected to be reduced from 40 mph to 45 mph to increase safety.
The work is slated to be completed in the spring of 2026. Remembering past road projects on Fort Myers Beach that have slowed down traffic while undergoing work, people are hoping when the project starts it isn't too much of a headache to navigate around.
"There's a lot of construction going on since the hurricane there," said Peter Dellaluna. "Never excited for construction. always excited for the result when they finish it. Anything that makes it easier to get across the bridge."
FDOT said drivers can expect some nighttime and overnight closures from time to time on weekdays when the work begins.