Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Ian, FDOT is committed to improving quality of life for the Matlacha and Pine Island community. An executive order from Governor DeSantis paved the way for permanent Pine Island Road Causeway and Bridge permanent repairs. The roadway segments within this area however are owned, operated, and maintained by Lee County.  

This project is being procured as an emergency contract pursuant to the State of Florida Governor’s Executive Order No. 22-218, as amended by Executive Order No. 22-219 so the team can respond more rapidly for the community.

The limits of the Project are County Road 78 (Pine Island Road) from west of Little Pine Island Bridge (Bridge No. 120111) to west of Shoreview Drive.

Goals of the project:

• Develop design and deliver phases of construction to provide for a permanent roadway, meeting the applicable standards within Lee County right-of-way;
• Resiliency options for potential inclusion in permanent construction;
• Proactively communicate, collaborate, and coordinate with Project stakeholders and the public;
• Minimize impacts to the natural and built environments;
• Complete NEPA and related environmental documentation prior to construction;
• Complete permitting required for construction;
• Restore access to private property;
• Ensure that all NEPA commitments are met;
• Minimize disruption to traffic flow during construction;
• Minimize impacts to and endeavor to avoid utilities and coordinate Utility/Agency Owner’s (UAO) utility relocation schedules and plans;
• Align phased Project delivery and earned value with available funding and environmental commitments;
• Use innovation, design optimization accelerated construction techniques and sharing of risk to expedite project completion.

As information becomes available, this website will be updated.

NOTE: For information on the Shared Use Feasibility Study, visit their project page at https://www.swflroads.com/project/436926-1

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) invites you to a public meeting for the Pine Island Causeway and Bridge Reconstruction in Lee County on April 11, 2024, any time from 5 – 7 p.m. for the in-person meeting and 6 – 7 p.m. for the online meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to provide the community an opportunity to review the Little Pine Island Bridge design, view the video presentation and exhibits, meet the project team, and provide comment.

For your convenience, FDOT provides multiple ways to participate in the public meeting, either by attending in-person, online (virtual) or reviewing materials on the project website. https://www.swflroads.com/project/451937-2  All meeting materials, including the project video, will be available online. You may choose any combination of these options to participate.

·       In-Person: Attend in person anytime from 5 - 7 p.m.  at the Pine Island United Methodist Church, 5701 Pine Island Road NW, Bokeelia, FL 33922.  The video presentation will replay automatically and be available on the project website.

·       Online: Attend virtually from a computer, tablet or mobile device from 6 - 7 p.m. You must register in advance by visiting https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4701770543186602584 Once registered, attendees will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to participate. The video presentation will replay automatically and be available on the project website. Please note, Internet Explorer cannot be used to register or attend this webinar.

FDOT is sending notices to all property owners, business owners, interested persons and organizations in a 300-foot area from the project limits. If you have any questions or comments, contact: FDOT PIO Jason Heironimus, (239)225-1983, jason.heironimus@dot.state.fl.us or mail Jason Heironimus, Florida Department of Transportation, Southwest Area Office, 10041 Daniels Parkway Ft. Myers, Florida 33913. While comments about the project are accepted at any time, please send your comments by April 21, 2024, to be included in the meeting record.

FDOT solicits public participation without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status. People who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Cynthia Sykes, District One Title VI Coordinator, at (863) 519-2287, or email at Cynthia.Sykes@dot.state.fl.us at least seven days prior to the public meeting.

The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by FDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. §327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated May 26, 2022, and executed by the Federal Highway Administration and FDOT.

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Stakeholders are an integral part of our process, so we have created a project hotline, email, website, and dedicated community outreach team to serve you throughout this process. 

Hotline: (239)-214-3364

Email: shana.overhulser@dot.state.fl.us

Website: https://www.swflroads.com/project/451937-2

Project stakeholders:

• Lee County
• Property Owners
• Utility Agencies and Owners - see Reference Documents for known utilities in area
• Lee County School District
• Businesses, Business Organizations, and Hotels in adjacent areas
• Neighborhood Associations
• Fire, Law Enforcement, and Emergency services
• General Traveling Public
• Others

FDOT has participated in these community events supporting Pine Island and Matlacha stakeholders:

• February 7, 2023 - Greater Pine Island Civic Association meeting
• May 3, 2023 - Matlacha Restoration - Historic District/Pine Island Road
• September 28, 2023 - Matlacha Civic Association Hurricane Ian Remembrance Ceremony 
• October 3, 2023 - Greater Pine Island Alliance
• January 21, 2024 - Matlacha Civic Association meeting
• March 7, 2024 – Citizens Advisory Committee, Cape Coral