Fort Myers City Council updates progress on Fowler Street construction project

The Fort Myers City Council left Southwest Florida drivers frustrated after they said part of the construction along Fowler Street may not be done for a few years.

Since crews from the Florida Department of Transportation began closing lanes at the intersection of Fowler Street and Colonial Boulevard, frustrated motorists have been dealing with roadway construction and erratic drivers.

On Thursday, FDOT updated the Fort Myers City Council about the work.

Work on the pedestrian safety upgrades won’t begin until 2030. That’s because any interim improvements, like sidewalks, beacons and bike lanes, can’t start until FDOT’s project development and environmental study begins. The $5.5 million to pay for that won’t come in until then.

Nicole Seltzer, the city engineer with public works, told the advisory board there is nothing on the docket through the year 2029.

Seltzer shared that the project is tenth on a long-range transportation priority list. The advisory board expressed hope they can look at the other nine on the list and bump the Fowler Street project up.

City council member Johnny Streets attended the meeting and took to the podium to express his agreement.

• RELATED: Expect more delays on Colonial and Fowler due to intersection project

“I totally agree. Fowler Street and Evans and that area has suffered too long, so to put it on record, I acknowledge the fact we do need to move forward,” said Streets.

As for that right turn at the intersection of Colonial Boulevard and Fowler Street, the timeline for when we will get it back should be sometime during Summer 2024.

Colonial Boulevard has also been reduced to two lanes while crews work from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.