North Estero Boulevard project to end next week
The final stage of a long-standing, but fruitful project is expected to be completed by the end of next week.
On Monday, the Fort Myers Beach Town Council unanimously approved to allow Southwest Utility Systems, Inc. to work at night and complete a final course of pavement over the entire roadway of North Estero Boulevard.
“The ground work is already done,” FMB Town Manager Terry Stewart reported before the motion was approved. “All there needs to be done is the final layer of paving.”
The action, which allows SUSI to modify its work schedule to perform the final road surface overlay at night, should “reduce certain safety and traffic issues” and thus expedite the task. Daytime paving could have caused traffic concerns and extended the length of the job.
“If it’s done during the day, it’s going to take all day long,” said Stewart. “Then you have the issue of people driving over it before it is really ready, so it’s best to try to do it at night.”
According to town documents, the night paving was reported to be at no additional cost to the town. It will take place on two evenings during the week of Feb. 14, and will involve two applications most likely one per night. The striping of the road will follow later in the week.
Although it may extend beyond the holiday, it should be a St. Valentine’s Day present to all business and residents who live along the 0.8-mile stretch and on its side streets.
The Town plans on giving residents, business personnel and visitors advance notice of the night paving schedule by way of signage and a notice on its website (www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov).
This project began in late September 2009 and was labeled the North Estero Boulevard Drainage Improvement Project. SUSI mobilized for construction on Sept. 28, 2009, and began work at the entrance to Bowditch Point Park on the Gulf side with the installation of the new water lines and appurtenances.
The project involved storm-water management, water utility, other utility work, street-scaping, trolley pulloffs, a bike lane, sidewalks, paving and landscaping.
The expected 395-day project was extended after a couple of change orders, but still managed to reportedly come under budget.
All along, council members have applauded the work and management on the town’s owned portion of Estero Boulevard. Town officials have hopes for the same to be done on the rest of Estero Island’s main road.
Most recently, at the town/county joint work session, FMB Mayor Larry Kiker used the town’s North Estero Boulevard project as a model to achieve the affordable, sought-after outcome for the remaining six miles of the county-owned Estero Boulevard.
Two club/lounges withdraw on special permit requests
The Fort Myers Beach Town Council accepted the withdrawal of special exception requests for two establishments in the Downtown Zoning District. The special exceptions involved outdoor consumption of alcohol beverages on premises.
Before withdrawing, the Surf Club was proposing to construct a 645 square foot deck to provide an outdoor seating area within 500 feet of the dwelling.
The Mermaid Lounge & Liquor Store was proposing to construct a 667 square foot deck to provide an outdoor seating area within 500 feet of the dwelling before their withdrawal.
Both establishments will be bringing their request back to the Town Local Planning Agency with modified plans.
“There was specific requests to build decks on both of these establishments and to allow drinking on these decks,” said Kiker. “However, there was question on whether or not the drinking was specific to only the deck or if was to the whole premise outside and including the deck. That’s why it is going back to the LPA with all that information.”