The Florida Department of Transportation’s contractor, Seacoast Inc. will begin work on the drawbridge in the city of LaBelle from Bridge Street (SR 29) over the Caloosahatchee River in Hendry Country on August 13, and construction will end in early 2019.

The project entails repairing and rehabilitating the drawbridge. Currently, overweight vehicles are not permitted to use the bridge; these scheduled improvements will allow trucks to use the bridge, shorten their travel distances and improve travel times.

While work is being done on the bridge, temporary bridge closures will occur during nighttime/overtime hours from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m., beginning August 13, weather permitting. Traffic control devices and flaggers will be on site to help motorists through the construction zone. There is a possibility that the bridge will be closed during weekends.

If full bridge closure is required, message boards will be in place to notify drivers of the closures and the detour route; full bridge closure hours will be from Fridays 10 p.m. to Mondays 6 a.m. only.

There will be limited pedestrian access on the bridge.

The estimated total construction cost is $1.4 million. Please drive safely and watch for construction crews in the work zone.

For more information about the project contact Community Outreach Manager, Corrine Burgess (863) 225-0422.