Lee Health board approves new 216-bed hospital on Colonial Blvd in Fort Myers

The Lee Health Board of Directors approved plans on Thursday to move forward in planning a new hospital campus in the City of Fort Myers.

Tentatively the hospital will be known as “Lee Health Colonial Campus.” The property will sit on 52 acres of land along Challenger Blvd. between Colonial Blvd. and Winkler Ave.

“Lee Health is planning a medical destination aimed at innovating health care in Southwest Florida. Our area is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, and this new hospital campus will ensure that everyone has the access to the quality health care they deserve,” said Dr. Larry Antonucci, president & CEO for Lee Health.

The campus is planned to include an acute care hospital with 216 beds, 16 operating rooms, an emergency department with 30 emergency room bays, and a 16-bed observation unit.

The campus will also house a complement of ancillary and social services and will include a Medical Office Building.

Marilyn Dry of Fort Myers is a fan of the announcement, saying, “I think I put 100 miles on the car and like three days,” when her husband had a gallbladder attack and she had to drive to Healthpark.

The permitting process for the new, state-of-the-art campus is expected to take about two years. After that portion of the project is complete, the build timeline is estimated to take an additional three years.

Dr. Larry Antonucci, President and CEO, Lee Health said, “Our community is growing and the need for healthcare continues to grow and as we face the aging of the Lee Memorial Hospital, we know that there are certain things that we can’t do there.”

The anticipated opening date of the campus is 2027.