Traffic backing up on Fort Myers Beach ahead of New Year's

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. —

Even without fireworks lighting up the sky, brake lights are already lighting up the road to Fort Myers Beach, and it’s not even New Year’s Eve yet.

Around 11 a.m. Tuesday, drivers reported long waits heading over the Matanzas Pass Bridge, with some saying it felt like cars were moving at walking speed. From the new Town Hall building to the bridge, the drive took more than 50 minutes for our crew.

"It's hard to get here, but once you're here, the car is parked, and we don't move it again," said Joe Pasciucco, visiting Fort Myers Beach with his family from Boston. "It's not quite a standstill, but close."

One major factor adding to the slowdowns? A traffic light near Times Square that's broken. The town says it falls under Lee County’s jurisdiction and won't be repaired until 2026. In the meantime, park rangers will be stationed at the intersection to direct traffic and keep things flowing safely.

On the plus side, there won’t be any lane closures this year since the fireworks setup has been canceled, and officials are hopeful that will help ease congestion at least slightly.

As traffic builds, some beachgoers are choosing to ditch their cars altogether. Bike rental shops, including Sun-N-Fun Rentals, say they’ve been busy all week, with one visitor even canceling a golf cart rental because of the traffic.

"This particular week, we've been really, really busy," said Steve Larson, with Sun-N-Fun Rentals. "They should get the light fixed, but traffic is no worse than it's ever been. Most people are here for vacation, so once they get here, it's not a huge issue."

The town says the best times to beat the worst of the traffic backups are before 9 a.m. and after 7:30 p.m.

The chamber of commerce is hosting its annual bar crawl on New Year's Eve, and The Whale is also planning a big celebration to ring in 2026.

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