Pine island Road widening project discussed: Florida Department of Transportation spokeswoman Debbie Tower discusses the Pine Island Road widening project July 11 at an informational meeting. (Thomas Stewart/news-press.com)
Owners of businesses along the portion of Pine Island Road to be widened soon are bracing for the impact of construction but hoping for better times once the work is complete.
Dozens of owners and area residents showed up Wednesday night at the German American Social Club of Cape Coral for an informational meeting hosted by the Florida Department of Transportation, which is expanding Pine Island Road from two to four lanes along the stretch from Chiquita Boulevard to Burnt Store Road.
At the informal gathering, DOT staff fielded questions and concerns, many from owners worried about access to their businesses during construction and once the median was installed.
“There’s going to be an inconvenience,” Cape Coral Councilman Marty McClain conceded. “But, you know, when it’s all said and done, they’ll be thrilled with it the same way they were with Del Prado, same as they were with Santa Barbara. All they did was complain the entire duration. Today, they don’t know what they did without it.”
Jay Johnson, owner of Bubba’s Roadhouse & Saloon, said once the project begins business could slow, but he’s willing to tough it out for potential future gains.
“Fortunately, most of the businesses that are existing have a good customer base and we should be able to weather the storm and I think we all agree, in the end, it’ll be good for all of us, especially as we get more commercial (development) out here,” Johnson said.
As it stands, he said, many people don’t realize his business is there. When they see the four lanes narrow to two at Chiquita Boulevard, they turn around.
“If they’re not from the area, they think it’s the end of the commercial zone,” he said.
Construction of the project — expected to begin as early as next year — will cost about $8.8 million, a sum Cape Coral obtained through a low-interest state loan. The loan will cost the city up to $907,000 in interest over four years, though the Metropolitan Planning Organization has agreed to reimburse the city the $8.8 million loan principal by 2017.
Right-of-way purchases will be picked up by DOT for about $12 million.
Garry Lattimer, a resident of the gated community Cape Royal, said he’s excited about more development as well as better evacuation routes during hurricanes that will result both from the widening of Pine Island Road and the upcoming expansion of Burnt Store Road.
“I’m looking forward to the growth,” Lattimer said. “I know it’s gonna be more traffic and everything, but I think it’s a good thing.”
Dana Brunett, the city’s economic development director, said a McDonald’s is scheduled to break ground next week on Pine Island Road and the expansion project could also spur Walmart to finally build on land they’ve purchased along the corridor.
“Should they come, more will follow, it’s just the nature of the beast,” Brunett said.
A few things still have to be ironed out, he said, such as how retail outlets will mix with industrial facilities such as Marine Concepts and whether access roads will be needed to help businesses make the most of the deep parcels.
Either way, he’s excited to see what’s in store.
“We need more tax base, we need more jobs and we need more investment,” Brunett said. “This type of widening facilitates that.”
