FDOT plans to replace Wilson Pigott Bridge drawbridge with 6-lane structure

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)— The Florida Department of Transportation is preparing to replace the Wilson Pigott Bridge, with construction expected to start in 2028.

The community has been calling for a new, safer bridge for years. The temporary closure of the current bridge affected commuters' ability to reach their favorite local spots.

"We couldn't go there this week because the bridge was closed, so we had to go 45 minutes for dinner," Ron Frye said.

Frye, a neighbor in the area, said the closure was a major inconvenience. "It's a big inconvenience, you know? It's nice to have this bridge here," Frye said.

The new bridge will serve people in the area who rely on it daily. Gary Franklin, a snowbird, said he needs the bridge for airport access.

"We're snowbirds, and yeah, we gotta go back and forth to the airport," Franklin said.

The bridge replacement is part of the state's plan to expand Bayshore Road and upgrade the Wilson Pigott Bridge. Those two projects will connect to the new Babcock Road, which is under construction.

Franklin said traffic and delays are already a problem. "There are so many trucks on it. It's just unbelievable the traffic and the delays," Franklin said. "People are in a hurry. They're trying to get through. The bridge is slowing everybody down."

The new high fixed bridge will be six lanes wide, 55 feet tall, and include space for bikers and pedestrians. With its height, the days of stopping for a sailboat will be over.

"It should have been done before. All these houses come in; infrastructure should have been there first, and then all these houses," Frye said.

FDOT says bridge construction will start in 2028.