Lehigh Acres traffic relief project gets green light from county leaders

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. (WINK)— Lee County leaders approved buying land off State Road 82, a key step in building a new connection between Sunshine Boulevard and the future Alico Road extension.

Neighbors who live in eastern Lee County say traffic is only getting worse as more people move into the area. On busy roads like State Road 82 and Daniels Parkway, traffic can crawl.

"Bumper to bumper," said Sandy Hamilton, a Lehigh Acres neighbor.

Hamilton said the new connector will cut down travel time. She said congestion on current routes means drivers are only moving one car length every five minutes.

"It'll cut time down, maybe 20 minutes," Hamilton said.

The Alico Road connector project is designed to create a new east-west route, helping take traffic off roads like Daniels Parkway and Colonial Boulevard. Construction will first focus on building the connection from Alico Road to State Road 82.

"I hate driving in congestion, but this new route would be a godsend," said John Bassett, a Lehigh Acres neighbor.

For some neighbors, it's not just about time—it's about safety. Bassett has lived along Sunshine Boulevard for 17 years, offering a direct view of State Road 82.

"I've witnessed many deaths at that intersection, and there have been numerous deaths because they needed to have a light there," Bassett said.

Phase three starts with a new intersection at Sunshine and State Road 82, designed to handle heavier traffic flow. The project then moves to widening Sunshine Boulevard from two to four lanes, adding sidewalks and bike lanes to support the area's growth.

"It's gonna put a lot of people at ease knowing that they can have a better traveling route than what is happening right now," Bassett said.

Lee County says construction is happening in phases, with this final phase expected to reach the area in the next few years.