Project Description

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District One proposed safety improvements to the intersection of SR 78 (Pine Island Road) and Hibiscus Drive in the City of Cape Coral, Lee County. The proposed project design added a temporary median on Pine Island Road. The median included directional openings to maintain left turn movements from eastbound and westbound Pine Island Road onto Hibiscus Drive.

Background: Pine Island Road in Cape Coral is a four-lane divided highway. Crashes involving vehicles from side streets have led to safety concerns at the intersection of Pine Island Road and Hibiscus Drive. Directional median openings are recommended to prevent future crashes.

Current conditions: Within the study area Pine Island Road is a four-lane divided roadway with a posted speed of 55 miles per hour. An opening in the raised median at the intersection of Pine Island Road and Hibiscus Drive permits right and left-turning traffic movements from four directions. Eastbound and westbound Pine Island Road consist of one designated left turn lane, two through lanes, one bicycle lane, and one designated right turn lane. Northbound and southbound Hibiscus Drive each have two lanes: a designated left turn lane, and a shared through/right turn lane. Traffic entering Pine Island Road from Hibiscus Drive is controlled by a STOP sign.

Design conditions: The design proposed a directional turn-lane median opening.

• Access will remain for eastbound and westbound drivers on Pine Island road making right or left turns onto Hibiscus Drive. Access will remain for northbound drivers on Hibiscus Drive turning right (east) onto Pine Island Road; access will remain for southbound drivers on Hibiscus Drive turning right (west) onto Pine Island Road.
• Access will be closed to drivers wishing to turn left (west) from northbound Hibiscus Drive and left (east) from southbound Hibiscus Drive. Those drivers will make a right turn onto Pine Island Road and may complete a U-turn at the next median opening. Median openings are located approximately 950 feet east and 1,350 feet west of the intersection.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District One invited public to attend a public hearing on April 29, 2021, as part of the design process for proposed safety improvements to the intersection at SR 78 (Pine Island Road) and Hibiscus Drive. The purpose of the Public Hearing was to present information and obtain input on the project design.

A 5:30 p.m. Open House presented an opportunity for in-person attendees to view project exhibits and speak with FDOT staff. 

Recording of Public Hearing Presentation and Comments April 29, 2021