City of Fort Myers, Florida
2200 Second Street
P.O. Box 2217
Ft. Myers, FL 33902-2217
Telephone (239)321-7000
August 13, 2020
Re: Old Metro Parkway (SR-739) from Warehouse Road to Hanson Street – Site address
Dear Property Owner/Tenant:
The City of Fort Myers in conjunction with the Florida Department of Transportation will rebuild Old Metro Parkway from Hanson Street to just south of Warehouse Road. Contractors for the project will also mill and resurface Hanson Street from the railroad tracks to just east of Old Metro Parkway. Seminole Gulf Railway plans to rehabilitate the railroad tracks on Hanson Street and on Old Metro Parkway during this work to minimize disruptions to area businesses. Crews are expected to work during daytime hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Some Saturday work may be required. The project is expected to be complete in early 2021.
Construction – What to Expect
Initially, crews will video the area to document existing conditions and install pollution prevention and roadway construction signage.
Seminole Gulf Railway
- Beginning September 14, Metro Parkway will be closed at the railroad crossing between Kutak Road and Kennesaw Street for railroad track infrastructure repair. This work is expected to take one week.
- Beginning September 21, Hanson Street will be closed at the railroad crossing between Palm Avenue and Old Metro Parkway for railroad track infrastructure repair. This work is expected to take one week.
Detour information for both road closures outlined above will be emailed to our project contact list and posted on the project website prior to the start of each closure. Visit the project website at www.OldMetroRebuild.com to sign up for construction update emails.
Old Metro Parkway
Beginning September 28, Old Metro Parkway will be a one-lane SOUTHBOUND road only for the duration of construction. (See attached detour map.)
- Motorists will access Old Metro Parkway only from Hanson Street and all internal traffic will be directed south on Old Metro Parkway to Metro Parkway.
- Motorists on Metro Parkway wanting to access Old Metro Parkway will be detoured as follows:
- Metro Parkway northbound traffic will follow the detour beginning at the Old Metro Parkway/Metro Parkway intersection north onto Evans Avenue; east (right) on Hanson Street; then south (right) on Old Metro Parkway.
- Metro Parkway southbound traffic will follow the detour beginning at the Old Metro Parkway/Metro Parkway intersection then south on Metro Parkway; east (left) on Winkler Avenue; north (left) on Veronica S. Shoemaker Boulevard; west (left) on Hanson Street; then south (left) on Old Metro Parkway.
First, crews are expected to close the northbound lane of Old Metro Parkway to completely rebuild the roadway. Demolition will include removal of existing asphalt roadway and driveway aprons within the right-of-way (ROW). The northbound lane will remain closed until the northbound roadway and driveway apron reconstruction is completed.
Once crews have completed the Old Metro Parkway northbound lane, they will shift southbound traffic to the newly constructed northbound lane and close the southbound lane to rebuild the roadway. Again, demolition will include removal of existing asphalt roadway and driveway aprons within the ROW. The southbound lane will remain closed until completed.
Crews will maintain access to side streets and driveways. Tractor trailers and oversized delivery trucks may experience difficulty entering and exiting businesses and side streets during this construction. Please contact the City’s public information consultant, Cella Molnar & Associates, if you have delivery requirement concerns at 239-337-1071 or email to info@OldMetroRebuild.com
Mailboxes may be temporarily relocated during construction and will be reinstalled during restoration at the end of the project. Finally, the disturbed ROW will be re-sodded. Upon completion, a final layer of asphalt will be installed to provide a smooth finished surface.
Emergency Water Shut-off and Boil Water Notices
While water line work is not included as part of this project, you may experience emergency or otherwise necessary water shut-offs. We will notify you in advance of any planned water shut-offs. If an emergency water shut-off occurs, we will notify you with a boil water notice as soon as possible.
Immediately following the water shut-off, you will be required to boil your water until bacteriological tests have been taken and cleared. This boil water period usually lasts approximately three to five days. You will receive another flyer once the boil water notice has been rescinded and the water is safe to drink. Residents and businesses along and near the project should plan for unexpected water shut-offs by keeping bottled water on hand to use in case of an emergency water line break.
Access to Private Property for Driveway Tie-ins
The City’s contractor may need access to your property to transition your driveway to the new roadway. We will contact you to obtain an executed Temporary Right of Entry if work outside of the City’s ROW is required.
Public Services (i.e., mail, garbage, Police/Fire/EMS)
Once construction begins, the City’s contractor will maintain public services such as mail delivery, garbage/recycle and bus services. Police/Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) will be notified of road closures and water shut offs. If there is someone in your location that requires special needs transportation services, please contact the City’s public information consultant for the project as outlined below.
Contact Information
Please refer to the project website located at www.OldMetroRebuild.com for further construction information and updates. If you have questions about the project or issues during construction, please contact the City’s public information consultant, Cella Molnar & Associates, Inc. at 239-337-1071, 877-496-1076 (toll free), or via e-mail to info@OldMetroRebuild.com.
Thank you and we look forward to rebuilding Fort Myers one neighborhood at a time!
Sincerely,
Richard Moulton
Director of Public Works