Downtown Fort Myers Art Walk canceled largely due to increased traffic

Reporter: Amy Galo Writer: Nicholas Karsen
Published: Updated:

The monthly downtown Fort Myers Art Walk has been canceled largely due to the increased traffic caused by the Caloosahatchee Bridge closing.

The Fort Myers River District Alliance stated that the event, organized by them, was originally set for Friday; however, due to the increased traffic, the streets could not be closed.

While the art walk has been canceled, the galleries featuring new exhibits at Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center will still be open to the public.

The Arts for ACT Gallery will also feature a watercolor artist display.

WINK News talked with Kevin Anderson, the Mayor of Fort Myers to get more insight.

“I was contacted by the executive director of the River District Alliance. And then she said, ‘Look, I’ve got a lot of artists who are not comfortable coming downtown because of the traffic situation or not sure if the crowds will be there,'” said Anderson.

Ultimately, the primary concern is safety.

“We’re still into this first week of the bridge being closed, and people have not quite got fully adjusted,” said Anderson.

However, Anderson did say that on June 21, the Music Walk should happen.

“I’ve been assured that this is just this week. And the goal is to get back on track for the rest of the summer,” said Anderson, meaning First Street will close for the event.

As for the traffic on First Street for the next ten weeks, the mayor is working with the Florida Department of Transportation to find a solution.

“I’ve asked them to look at could there be funding to have officers at key intersections during the rush hour traffic in the afternoon to direct traffic and hopefully facilitate the smoother flow of traffic,” said Anderson.

The mayor expects to hear back from FDOT by early next week.

The River District Alliance stated that this week had been challenging following the closure of the Caloosahatchee Bridge, as artists started canceling their appearances on Monday.

The event organizers expressed confidence that the Music Walk, scheduled to begin on June 21, will not be impacted.

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.