Cape Coral Bridge

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Cape Coral Bridge
Cape Coral Bridge.jpg
Coordinates 26°33′40.04″N81°55′44.96″W / 26.5611222°N 81.9291556°W / 26.5611222; -81.9291556
CarriesCR 867A jct.svg CR 867A (Cape Coral Bridge Road)
Crosses Caloosahatchee River
Locale Cape Coral, Florida
Maintained byLee County Department of Transportation
ID number
  • 124044 (westbound)
  • 124065 (eastbound)
Characteristics
Design Concrete girder
Total length3,400 ft (1,036 m)
Longest span95 feet (29 m)
Clearance below 55 feet (17 m)
No. of lanes 4
History
Opened
  • Westbound Bridge (original):
  • March 14, 1964;60 years ago (1964-03-14)
  • Eastbound Bridge:
  • 1989
Statistics
Daily traffic 37,960 (2017) [1]
TollFor Westbound traffic only (As of 2022)

LeeWay/Sunpass/Interoperable Transponders: $2

Toll By Plate (w/o LeeWay/SunPass/Interoperable Transponders): $5

+$2 For Additional Axles

Contents

Location
Cape Coral Bridge

The Cape Coral Bridge is a bridge located in Southwest Florida. It spans the Caloosahatchee River connecting McGregor and Cape Coral. It is made up of two parallel fixed spans, each 3,400 feet (1,000 m) long.

The Cape Coral Side of the eastbound span (the 1989 span) Foot of Cape Coral Bridge.jpg
The Cape Coral Side of the eastbound span (the 1989 span)

History

The original span opened for traffic on March 14, 1964, with one lane in each direction. [2] In 1989, a second parallel span opened south of the first span, with two lanes for eastbound traffic, and westbound traffic using both lanes on the original span. In conjunction with the new eastbound span, a four lane overpass was constructed over the intersection of State Road 867 (McGregor Boulevard) just east of the bridge.

The Cape Coral Bridge was the only link between Fort Myers and Cape Coral until 1997, when the Midpoint Memorial Bridge opened just north of the Cape Coral Bridge on the Caloosahatchee River. [2]

"Welcome" Monument and Water Fountain on the median of Cape Coral Parkway on the Cape Coral Side of the bridge Cape Coral monument.jpg
"Welcome" Monument and Water Fountain on the median of Cape Coral Parkway on the Cape Coral Side of the bridge

The bridge is owned by the Lee County Department of Transportation. There is currently a two dollar toll in effect for westbound vehicles only, and there is no tolls for eastbound traffic. Florida's statewide SunPass prepaid electronic toll collection system is accepted on the Cape Coral Bridge, along with Lee County's "Leeway" prepaid toll system, which is also used on the Midpoint Bridge, and the Sanibel Causeway. However, there is a variable pricing scheme in effect.

Future

Due to the age of the 1964 structure, there are currently plans to rebuild the Cape Coral Bridge. Initially, plans included replacing the westbound Cape Coral Bridge with a new three-lane bridge and widening the eastbound bridge (built in 1989) to three lanes on both direction. [3] In 2023, the county instead decided to replace both bridges with new three-lane bridges for a total of six lanes. Additionally, the project will also allow pedestrian access to the bridge, improve bicycle lanes and improve the intersection between Cape Coral Parkway and Del Prado Boulevard. The project is expected to begin in 2026. [4]

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References

  1. "Florida Bridge Information – 2018 4th Quarter" (PDF). Florida Department of Transportation . October 1, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 21, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Wadsworth, Chris; Cull, Anne (2009). Cape Coral. Arcadia Publishing. p. 113. ISBN   978-0-7385-6771-6.
  3. Rangel, Alexandria (15 June 2022). "Council members review Lee County's next steps to upgrade Cape Coral Bridge". Fox 4 News - Southwest Florida. Fox 4 News. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  4. Rodriguez, Emma (19 September 2023). "Replacement plan for the Cape Coral Bridge gets green light". WGCU-TV. Retrieved 26 April 2024.