SWFL.io - Local NewsCape Coral leaders are expected to move forward with a $2.3 million contract for the Cape Coral Parkway East six-lane improvement project to improve traffic flow and make more room for drivers.
Part of the project includes removing the median between Triton Court East and Manor Court to create a longer turn lane.
"It's horrible. Traffic in the morning," said Shawn Rippentrop, a Cape Coral driver who knows how congested traffic can get on Cape Coral Parkway.
Carter Brown, another Cape Coral resident, grew weary of dealing with the traffic mess and decided to find a way to avoid it altogether. "I got tired of the traffic and tired of dealing with things. So I actually put my boat on a lift closer to home and shortened my commute from, you know, anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour, down to like five minutes," Brown said.
The project, if approved, will see construction underway on Cape Coral Parkway East between Triton Court East and just west of Cape Coral Street and Southeast 15th Avenue. The work will include resurfacing and restriping, adding longer turn lanes, upgrading traffic signals, installing new signage, improving sidewalks and curbs, and removing 33 street trees. The project is expected to take up to seven months to complete.
"I think the seven-month timeline is, I mean, laughable. Everybody knows it never, you know, we've been waiting on the yacht club for how long? You know, how many years now?" Brown said.
Though there is a lot of improvement on the horizon, drivers aren't too optimistic. "It will help, but it's not going to help much till the bridge is redone in a few years. So it will help some," Rippentrop said.
Wednesday's Cape Coral City Council meeting is at 4 p.m.
Count on Gulf Coast to let you know what is decided.
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