Island roads, south bike path undergoing repairs
The roadwork scheduled for Boca Grande has begun. In April the Lee County Department of Transportation approved a plan on behalf of Lee County commissioners that partners the county with Ajax Paving Industries of Florida, LLC in resurfacing Boca Grande roads.
The project also includes drainage and concrete work. It is scheduled to cost $473,459, which is currently available in the budget. Work was scheduled to begin in May but was delayed.
In November of 2021 the county approved an opening of bids on the project. Ajax and 10 other contractors came to bid. Ajax won.
Boca Grande’s road resurfacing is considered by Lee County to fall into the discretionary spending category funded by transportation capital improvement fees and taxes.
You might have also seen work being done on the bike path south of 1st Street, which is owned by the county Department of Transportation. Fill dirt is being packed along the sides to create a more stable environment for golf carts that have to pull over, as there was a considerable drop-offs in many spots.
If you were hoping that the path was being widened, it is not at this time. However, years ago we were promised a wider path, and someday it might happen.
In September of 2016 the Lee County Department of Transportation announced plans that included
a bigger bike path at the south end and Gasparilla Road widening. Ajax Paving Industries of Florida, LLC was chosen to do the road resurfacing and bike path widening. The cost of the project is $2.3 million. The money comes from local-option gas taxes.
The bike path was to be widened from 1st Street to Belcher Road, while at the same time a crew was working on adding four-foot shoulders on both sides of Gasparilla Road. No answer was available from Lee County DOT when they were asked if that plan would ever come to fruition. We will keep trying.
