Lee County awards $1.53 million to pave 94 Lehigh Acres road segments

Lee County commissioners awarded a $1,528,750 contract to pave 94 road segments across Lehigh Acres.

The October 6 vote covers approximately 21.1 lane miles, according to the county's official item 37 record. Russ Berner Construction submitted the lowest of eight bids and received the award.

WGCU reporter Mike Walcher reports that work is expected to begin in November. The contract itself ties the schedule to a later county notice to proceed and requires final acceptance within 60 calendar days of the commencement date in that notice.

Which Lehigh Acres roads are included

The contract package includes a 32-sheet location-map set with the work numbered from segment 1 through segment 94. The first sheet includes Hidden Point and Dogwood Avenue North. The final sheet includes parts of 50th Street West, 41st Street West, 40th Street West, Catron Court, Helen Place, 33rd Street West, 29th Street West and Laura Avenue North.

The maps define exact start and end points for each segment. That matters because the award does not mean every block of a named road will be paved. Residents should use the county maps, rather than the street name alone, to determine whether their block is included.

How the county selects roads

Lee County's staff report says the Department of Transportation budgets between $1 million and $1.5 million each year to convert dirt roads to paved roads. To qualify, a road must be unimproved and have at least one home with a certificate of occupancy.

The county says it has converted about 52.7 lane miles since fiscal 2023. The new award is funded in the current capital-improvement budget and carries no stated impact on future budgets.

The next operational milestone is Lee County's notice to proceed. That document will establish the commencement date and start the 60-day contract clock.