Cape Coral Bridge

{{Infobox bridge

| name = Cape Coral Bridge

| image = Cape Coral Bridge.jpg

| image_size = 300px

| alt =

| caption =

| coordinates = {{coord|26|33|40.04|N|81|55|44.96|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| carries = {{jct|state=FL|CR|867A|county1=Lee|name1=Cape Coral Bridge Road}}

| crosses = Caloosahatchee River

| locale = Cape Coral, Florida

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| maint = Lee County Department of Transportation

| heritage =

| id = {{unbulleted list|124044 (westbound)|124065 (eastbound)}}

| website =

| design = Concrete girder

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| length = {{convert|3400|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}

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| mainspan = {{convert|95|ft}}

| number_spans =

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| clearance_above =

| clearance_below = {{convert|55|ft}}

| lanes = 4

| life =

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| open = {{Plainlist|

Westbound Bridge (original):
{{Start date and age|1964|03|14}}
Eastbound Bridge:
1989

}}

| inaugurated =

| traffic = 37,960 (2017){{cite web|title=Florida Bridge Information – 2018 4th Quarter|url=http://www.fdot.gov/maintenance/STR/BI/2018_4th_Quarter.pdf|website=Florida Department of Transportation|date=October 1, 2018|access-date=December 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221230638/http://www.fdot.gov/maintenance/STR/BI/2018_4th_Quarter.pdf|archive-date=December 21, 2018|url-status=dead}}

| toll = For 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

}}

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 {{convert|3400|ft|m}} long.

Image:Foot of Cape Coral Bridge.jpg

History

The original span opened for traffic on March 14, 1964, with one lane in each direction.{{cite book|last1=Wadsworth|first1=Chris|last2=Cull|first2=Anne|title=Cape Coral|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yd-D28AQunEC&pg=PA113|year=2009|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-6771-6|page=113}} 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.

Image:Cape Coral monument.jpg

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.{{cite news |last1=Rangel |first1=Alexandria |title=Council members review Lee County's next steps to upgrade Cape Coral Bridge |url=https://www.fox4now.com/news/local-news/lee-county/council-taking-next-steps-to-upgrade-cape-coral-bridge |access-date=3 July 2022 |agency=Fox 4 News |publisher=Fox 4 News - Southwest Florida |date=15 June 2022}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Rodriguez |first1=Emma |title=Replacement plan for the Cape Coral Bridge gets green light |url=https://news.wgcu.org/government-politics/2023-09-19/replacement-plan-for-the-cape-coral-bridge-gets-green-light |access-date=26 April 2024 |agency=WGCU-TV |date=19 September 2023}}