The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted to approve an agreement with a developer that will allow additional turn lanes to be constructed and a traffic signal to be added at the intersection of Lee Boulevard and Leonard Boulevard North in Lehigh Acres.
The turn lanes will allow safe access to the planned commercial development at the site. Timing of the construction of the turn lanes is tied to the development plans.
The developer, Lee Blvd Investments LLC, will be responsible for the cost of the three westbound right turn lanes on Lee Boulevard into the development, the expansion/reconstruction of the eastbound left turn lane into the development at the Leonard Boulevard signalized access, and the expansion of the eastbound left turn lane at the project’s north-south road.
Lee County will be responsible for the costs of the westbound left turn lane on Lee Boulevard at signalized Leonard Boulevard, closing the existing eastbound left turn lane into the site, closing the eastbound left turn lane on Lee Boulevard for east access, expansion of westbound left turn lane at the north-south road and intersection improvements on the northbound approach along Leonard Boulevard.
Lee Blvd Investments LLC will donate one-half of the cost of the traffic signals, plans, signalized intersection design (except those paid by Lee County) and permitting of all improvements of Lee Boulevard. The county will be responsible for the cost of the design and one-half of the cost of the traffic signal.
Florida Statutes Section 336.71 allows the county the ability to enter into a public-private cooperation agreement for the construction of county roads. The access management improvements on Lee Boulevard within the vicinity of the development are identified safety improvements by the Department of Transportation, and therefore county funds may be used. This proposed county road construction project meets all of the statutory criteria, specifically it:
- Is in the best interest of the public.
- Would only use county funds for portions of the project that will be part of the county road system.
- Would have adequate safeguards to ensure that additional costs or unreasonable service disruptions are not realized by the traveling public and citizens of the state.
- Upon completion, would be a part of the county road system owned by the county.
- Would result in a financial benefit to the public by completing the subject project at a cost to the public significantly lower than if the project were constructed by the county using the normal procurement process.
The board’s vote came at the conclusion of a public hearing during the regularly scheduled meeting.
