Public information meetings take place for new Daniels Pkwy and I-75 diverging diamond interchange

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

The Florida Department of Transportation is converting the Interstate 75 and Daniels Parkway interchange in Lee County into a diverging diamond interchange.

FDOT said it will work on making improvements to the I-75 and Daniels Parkway interchange, which include the reconstruction of the interchange at Exit 131 into a DDI design, the reconstruction of the I-75 ramps, the construction of pedestrian and bicycle accommodations through the interchange, the installation of new signals at the ramps, and the resurfacing of Daniels Parkway.

Preliminary work will begin Monday, and FDOT said drivers should expect crews to begin mobilization and earthwork in the area.

Drivers exiting Interstate 75 south onto Daniels Parkway are already seeing changes as crews begin construction to widen the roadway and build a new diverging diamond interchange.

Construction crews have started clearing trees and setting up traffic cones as part of the early phases of the project, which is designed to ease congestion and improve traffic flow in one of Fort Myers’ busiest corridors.

For many drivers, the construction is already causing frustration.

“It’s annoying. I’m not going to lie to you,” said Fort Myers resident Ian Thompson. “It makes my commute home really difficult every day.”

Drivers who regularly use Exit 131 or Daniels Parkway to commute to and from work say patience will be necessary as the project continues.

“Well, be prepared,” said Fort Myers resident Bob Mucci. “That’s what my advice would be. Be prepared because you just have to be patient.”

Thompson said while the design can be confusing at first, it has long-term benefits.

“I think the diverging diamond there is a pretty interesting pattern,” he said. “It’s a little confusing for first-time drivers, but eventually, you do get used to it. I’m kind of glad that we’re starting to see more innovative traffic patterns. It’s better than just stoplights.”

Mucci said the length of construction and the number of changes could create challenges in the short term.

“I think it’s difficult because there’s so many changes that are taking place and it’s going to be over a long period of time,” he said. “It’s going to cause some problems going forward, especially on Fiddlesticks.”

FDOT said that when necessary, drivers should anticipate lane closures on I-75 between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. and between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. on Daniels Parkway.

FDOT said that the lane closure hours will not be in effect three hours before, during and after spring training baseball games at Hammond Stadium and JetBlue Park.

FDOT encourages drivers to use caution and watch for workers and construction vehicles entering and leaving the roadway.

Despite the current disruptions, some drivers believe the finished project will improve traffic in the long run.

“I think that, in the long run, as they finish up and it becomes more of the diamond like they have over Colonial, it’s going to work better,” Mucci said.

FDOT officials will host a public information meeting on Thursday at 4 p.m. at Riverside Church to share more details about the project.

A virtual meeting will follow at 6:30 p.m. Participants can register by clicking here.

The reconstruction is expected to be completed in summer 2028.

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