Codify Board discussion at the December 4, 2018 workshop to approve the recommended 60-foot Vertical Clearance Fixed Span Bridge, Gulf side alignment, as the preferred alternative replacement of the Big Carlos Pass Bridge.

Approve the staff and consultant recommended bridge alternative to finalize the Project Development & Environmental Study (PD&E) for Big Carlos Pass Bridge and begin design on a 60-Foot Vertical Clearance Fixed Span Bridge Replacement. Scheduled for construction in 2021.

Replacement of the Big Carlos Pass Bridge was first presented and approved by the BoCC during adoption of the FY 2012/13-2016/17 Capital Improvement Program. The bridge replacement project has been the #2 transportation priority since 2016 and the Lee County Department of Transportation (DOT) began a Project Development & Environmental Study (PD&E) in 2016.

The PD&E has focused on three alternatives, outlined below.  During the PD&E process, DOT conducted numerous presentations and public meetings to review the alternatives with elected officials and other stakeholders. Costs for each option, including initial capital costs and lifecycle operation and maintenance costs, have been identified through the Study.

The three options identified are as follows:

No Build/Rehabilitation (required to be considered as part of the PD&E Study) – Initial capital cost $29,374,000/lifecycle operations and maintenance (LOM) $10,846,000/design life 20 years

24-Foot Vertical Clearance Drawbridge – Initial capital cost $60,712,000; Operations and Maintenance over design life of 75 years is $13,747,000 in current dollars (no inflation); $34,243,000 at a 2% inflation rate; and $99,739,000 at a 4% inflation rate.

60-Foot Vertical Clearance Fixed Span Bridge - Initial capital cost $48,145,000; Operations and Maintenance over design life of 75 years is $4,632,000 in current dollars (no inflation); $11,396,000 at a 2% inflation rate; and $33,955,000 at a 4% inflation rate. 

Construction of the bridge replacement is planned for 2021. DOT has $25 million committed in funding using Surplus Tolls. On June 22, 2018, the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization voted to allocate $15 million in federal allocation funding in FYs 2025, 2026 and 2027, which will be matched with $10 million in funding from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).