Lee County Commissioners have approved a $484 million plan to replace the aging Cape Coral Parkway Bridge with two new three-lane structures, each featuring wider shoulders, improved lighting, and shared-use paths for bicycles and pedestrians. The project will also upgrade intersections at Del Prado Boulevard and McGregor Boulevard to address existing traffic chokepoints.
The current four-lane bridge, half of which is more than a decade past its design life, carries about 50,000 vehicles daily, with traffic projected to reach 70,000 by 2045. County officials determined that full replacement—expected to last 75 years—offers greater value than repairs, which would add only 20 years of service life. The project also aims to reduce emergency evacuation times during hurricane season.
Construction is set to begin in 2028 and take approximately four years. The new eastbound bridge will be built first, temporarily carrying two lanes in each direction to maintain four lanes of traffic throughout construction. Once traffic shifts to the new eastbound bridge, both existing structures will be demolished and replaced with a new westbound bridge. Updated tolling equipment will allow vehicles to pass without stopping, easing congestion. Right-of-way acquisition is underway for 11 parcels between Cape Coral Parkway East and College Parkway.