Drivers passing through Big Carlos Pass can’t miss the massive changes underway. At least half of the new bridge is up, and it’s already clear it will stand much taller than the current one.
Five cranes and construction crews are hard at work on the project, which began in summer 2023. The new bridge connects Fort Myers Beach to Lovers Key, replacing the old structure with a safer, more modern design.
Nearby resident Bob Irzyk, who lives at Lovers Key Beach Club, has had a front-row seat to the progress — and the noise.
“It seems like it’s taking forever,” he said. “Day after day, you see the concrete going in, the bridge going up.”
He and his wife are among many locals eager to see the work finished.
“We look ahead to 2026. It can’t get here soon enough,” he said.
Living right across from the site means early mornings and construction sounds are part of daily life.
“We hear everything. It could be five or six in the morning, and we’ll hear the beep-beep-beep from trucks backing up," Irzyk said.
Drone footage from April shows how much higher the new bridge will sit — with a 60-foot clearance above the water. Project spokesperson Jennifer Dorning says construction is on track.
“We’ve been putting in the footings and piers, then the beams and bridge deck,” she said.
While the full project is set to finish in summer 2026, Dorning says traffic could switch to the new span earlier — likely by spring.
“We’ll open it to vehicles before everything is completely done," Dorning said.
Renderings show the completed bridge will include bike lanes, a wider sidewalk, and a 10-foot shared-use path. That’s a major plus for Irzyk and his wife, who walk and bike the current bridge regularly.
“It’s a real narrow lane now,” he said. “There’s always that concern of getting hit from behind.”
Despite the delays and noise, people say the end result will be worth the wait.
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