The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a construction contract to complete the Bell Boulevard sidewalk project in Lehigh Acres.
This Lee County Department of Transportation project’s construction phase is fully funded through the Federal Highway Administration. On May 6, the Board approved a grant agreement for more than $2 million to cover construction and inspection phases.
The nearly $1.5 million construction contract with V & H Construction, Inc., consists of a new concrete sidewalk extension on the east side of Bell Boulevard from Sunrise Boulevard to Shadow Lakes Drive that then crosses Bell Boulevard at a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon intersection and continues on the west side of the road to Albemarle Circle.
The project also includes a new steel pedestrian bridge crossing Jim’s Canal. The new sidewalk will connect to an existing sidewalk on the north end of the project at Albemarle Circle and will connect to the sidewalk being constructed now at the south end near Sunrise Boulevard.
Construction is expected to begin in November and be complete by next summer, weather permitting. This project is a priority established by the Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC).
Lee DOT and BPAC continuously analyze ways to improve pedestrian connections in surrounding communities. BPAC looks for projects to fill gaps in sidewalks so that pedestrian amenities connect neighboring communities.
