There has been renewed interest in expediting the widening of the final stretch of Pine Island Road (SR 78) in Cape Coral, Florida. State representative Gary Aubuchon plans to reintroduce a bill during next springs legislative session that would allow the city of Cape Coral to proceed with construction of the remaining piece of two lane road lies between the Burnt Store Road/Veterans Memorial Parkway intersection and Chiquita Boulevard intersection. Bonds would be issued for up to 30 years to help pay for the estimated $60 million project and would be backed by increased property taxes from commercial development along the road. The city would then be repaid by the state when state funding became available for the project.
This portion of Pine Island Road desperately needs to be four laned as it is a major hurricane evacuation route for those on Pine Island as well as those in the northwest portion of the Cape. Currently, there is no state money to fund the construction until after 2014. But if Aubuchon’s bill passes next spring construction can begin in 18 months to two years.
This is not the first time this particular project has been on a bill to be fast tracked. It was part of a bill that was vetoed in June 2008 by Governor Charlie Crist. But Aubuchon sees no such problems with next years bill.
Most Cape city officials are in favor of this bond as it will pave the way for future development on the final untouched stretch of Pine Island Road. Current plans for commercial development along this stretch include a Super Wal-Mart and a million square foot shopping mall, both of which have been in the plans for several years but are contingent on the widening of this particular stretch of Pine Island Road.
