Times Square Light Work Begins Monday

The final piece to the traffic light puzzle in the downtown area of Fort Myers Beach will soon be in place. Work on the Lee County owned light at the Times Square intersection begins Monday, one month earlier than expected.

Lee County Department of Transportation Traffic and its contractor, DPI Experts will begin permanent repairs of the traffic signal at the intersection of Old San Carlos Boulevard and Estero Boulevard Monday. The light has been broken since Hurricane Ian destroyed it in September of 2022, nearly 4 years ago.

The Lee Board of County Commissioners approved the contract to DPI Experts for $332,366. The project will be funded through FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund.

The scope of work for this project is extensive, covering virtually every component of the traffic signal system at the intersection. Crews will replace damaged pedestrian signal and street light foundations, install new ADA-compliant ramps and detectable warning surfaces, and install updated pedestrian signals and streetlights throughout the intersection. All signal wiring will be replaced, along with a new electrical service and load center, a new traffic signal controller assembly, new signal heads, and a modern video detection system. Upon completion, pavement markings at the intersection will also be refreshed.

The upgraded design incorporates resiliency improvements over the original installation. Electrical signal equipment will be elevated to help protect it from future storm surge and flooding; a direct response to the vulnerabilities exposed by Hurricane Ian and a proactive step toward safeguarding the intersection for years to come.
The estimated completion time is in the Fall, subject to weather conditions. To minimize disruption to the community, all the work will be done during nighttime hours, from 7:00 PM to 5:30 AM. Drivers and pedestrians may encounter intermittent lane closures during nighttime hours as crews work to remove and replace concrete, foundations, and related infrastructure.

Crews will begin on the northwest corner of the intersection, where they will remove existing concrete and ADA ramps, replace the underlying foundations, and pour new sidewalk and ADA-compliant ramps. Once the northwest corner is completed, crews will move to the southeast corner and perform the same scope of work. Each corner will be completed independently before work advances to the next area. Pedestrians should be prepared for detours in and around the work zones during active construction. Motorists and pedestrians alike are urged to use extra caution when traveling through the intersection, follow all posted signage, and allow for additional travel time during construction hours.

Local journalism is hard work. If you appreciate the most in-depth reporting on Fort Myers Beach, please support what we do HERE by Venmo, Zell or PayPal. Thank you.