Pre-pandemic toll costs return to Lee County for drivers without transponders

Starting Friday, your Lee County commute could cost you more, as the prices you paid to go through toll booths pre-pandemic are coming back.

It’s very easy to get around the old costs, though; you just need to sign up to get a free transponder and you won’t be affected. Lee County says the decision to resume administrative fees is less to get people to pay the fees and more to incentivize them getting a free transponder. For those who do not have a transponder, the administrative fee means you’ll be back to paying $3 extra per toll.

Some good news: If you have a transponder that is not the county-issued kind, Leeway, there’s a good chance it will still work. If you have a Sunpass, EZ-pass, etc., you’ll still be able to pass through without paying the administrative fee.

One Cape Coral driver who does not have a transponder was a little surprised to hear the administrative fee was returning.

“I guess I just won’t be going over the bridge anymore,” said Mark Snyder. “That’s just way too much. We’ll probably go around quite a bit and plan our trips a little bit better.”

Snyder did say he was now planning on getting a transponder.

Currently, the total number of active Leeway transponders is 139,000, which accounts for 62% of transponder traffic on the tolls. The money collected from these tolls goes directly back to the Lee County Department of Transportation that handles the bridges and roads you’re driving on, which may mean operations and maintenance for them, debt or a project.

Another Cape Coral driver, one who does have a transponder, says she’s okay with the fees returning.

“Well, if they need to raise the prices to maintain the bridges, then that’s a good thing,” said Hope. “I have a transponder, so I’m good.”

You can also use the Leeway transponder for tolls in Georgia and North Carolina.