Southbound Ortiz Avenue traffic shifts onto the new roadway overnight Wednesday in Fort Myers

The Lee County Department of Transportation is asking drivers to use caution on Ortiz Avenue this week as crews move southbound traffic onto a newly built section of roadway.

According to the county notice reported by the WINK News Digital Team, crews will shift southbound traffic onto the new roadway on the east side of the corridor between Colonial Boulevard and the roundabout at Hanson Street. The work is scheduled for midweek, likely during the overnight hours of 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29 to 6 a.m. on Thursday, July 30.

Flaggers and law enforcement will be on site to assist motorists. The county is advising drivers to choose alternate routes during the overnight shift where possible, and telling those who do use the road to proceed with caution and pay close attention to the new stop locations before moving into live lanes.

The shift is part of the Ortiz Avenue widening project, which the county describes as a prioritized project of the Lee Board of County Commissioners. The project takes the roadway from two travel lanes to four and adds a six-foot sidewalk on the east side of the road and a ten-foot paved trail on the west side. On-road bike lanes are included, new street lighting will be installed, and a grass median will separate traffic.

The roundabout at the Hanson Street intersection will remain as it is. The county puts the cost of the project at about $31 million and has construction scheduled for completion later this year.

This is a traffic shift rather than a closure. The county has not announced a full closure of Ortiz Avenue, a detour requirement, or any change to northbound traffic in connection with this work.

This brief credits WINK News and its Digital Team for reporting the county notice and links their account.