• Traffic in Lee County, Florida, will shift to the new Big Carlos Pass Bridge on November 14.
• The area remains an active construction zone, and pedestrians should use caution on the temporary sidewalk.
• When completed in 2026, the bridge will feature bike lanes, a sidewalk, and a shared-use path.

Road improvement continue just about everywhere you look in Southwest Florida these days, and there’s news regarding one of the most significant projects in Lee County.

The county announced today (Nov. 6) that traffic will shift to the new Big Carlos Pass Bridge starting on Nov. 14.

The shift to the newly constructed, fixed-span bridge will actually begin at 11 p.m. Nov. 13 through 6 a.m. Nov. 14.

Motorists will begin driving on the new bridge in the early morning hours of Nov. 14.

In a press release, Lee County said once the traffic is shifted, the LeeTran trolley stops on the east side of the bridge will open for service.

Opening of Big Carlos Pass bridge: What to know

• It’s important for the public – especially bicyclists and pedestrians – to be aware this remains an active construction zone. Although there will be a narrow sidewalk on the new span, it will not be in its final condition, as work is still progressing on the bridge.
• Travel lanes will be shifted on the west end of the bridge near Fort Myers Beach as crews finalize work on this span. The navigational channel will shift to the east as this work is completed later this year. The vertical navigation clearance of the new channel is 60 feet.

This work is a part of Lee County’s project to construct a new bridge over Big Carlos Pass, from Estrellita Drive on Fort Myers Beach to the Lovers Key State Park bayside entrance on Lovers Key.

Construction of the Big Carlos Pass bridge: What to know

When completed, the new bridge will include:

• One travel lane in each direction
• Bicycle lanes
• A 6-foot-wide sidewalk along the north side of Estero Boulevard
• A 10-foot-wide shared use path along the south side of Estero Boulevard, with a substantial barrier between vehicles and pedestrians.

Once the project is completed, parking will be available on the southeast side of the bridge. Lee County Parks & Recreation plans a parking area with bathrooms on the southeast side of the bridge to be added at a later date.

The project began in Summer 2023 with estimated completion in Summer 2026.

What will happen to the existing bridge at Big Carlos Pass?

Prior to completion, the existing bridge will be dismantled and used for an artificial reef. The project cost is about $90.8 million. The contractor is Superior Construction.

For more information about the project, visit the project website at https://bigcarlosbridgeproject.com/.

For more information about the Lee County Department of Transportation, visit www.leegov.com/dot.