SWFL.io - Local NewsGracie Fusco
•7/25/2026
CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK) — The massive 250-foot American flag that flies over the Cape Coral Bridge has been taken down after crews spotted damage.
The city removed the flag Saturday morning after discovering damage to an eyelet. The 250-foot flagpole has been hard to miss since it went up along Cape Coral Parkway.
Neighbor Jim Boswell noticed the damage before the flag came down.
"It was hanging from the kind of the lower corner of the flag, and definitely looked distressed," Boswell said.
Officials say the current flag will either be repaired or replaced, and a new flag is already on the way. The city says it understands the community's frustration and is committed to getting the flag back up as quickly and as safely as possible.
"The sooner it gets fixed, the better," Boswell said. "I'm sure it's embarrassing for them that it's down, but also they shouldn't rush it to the point where it's going to fail again."
The flagpole itself has been the center of controversy since before it was built. Its price tag sparked debate across Cape Coral, with some people questioning whether the money should have been spent elsewhere.
"The flagpole just came at a bad time," Boswell said. "However, I will say that after the flag went up, I saw it and saw it out on the water, and I was very impressed with how it looked. So I sort of changed my opinion."
Several people said off camera they still believe the funds could have been spent on other city priorities, while others say the flag has become a symbol of patriotism. Neighbors Nancy and Bob Augustine say they appreciate what the flag represents.
"It's nice in a way because of the fact it's still for our veterans," Nancy Augustine said. "And I look at it this way: if it wasn't for us soldiers protecting this country, we wouldn't have the freedom."
The city has not said how long repairs or a replacement will take, only that crews are continuing to work with the manufacturer to get the flag flying again as soon as possible.