Resurfacing Key Evacuation Routes

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Lee Commissioners approve contract to resurface two key evacuation routes to be more resilient

Fort Myers, FL, Feb. 3, 2026 – The Lee Board of County Commissioners awarded a contract Tuesday to resurface two key roadways in western Lee County to be more resilient to erosion and washout while improving drainage and reducing long-term maintenance costs.

The low-bid contract includes removing deteriorated asphalt, stabilizing the road base and applying new asphalt designed to increase drainage efficiency. The $2.1 million contract with Ajax Paving Industries of Florida LLC will include:

  • Burnt Store Road from NW 41st Terrace to Gator Slough Canal
  • Pine Island Road between the Matlacha Bridge and the Little Pine Island Bridge

Both roadways serve as direct evacuation routes. The work is needed to protect the roadway from future damage and to ensure the evacuation routes function properly.

The work is expected to begin in spring and be completed within four months.

The project is funded by Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The project budget includes funding for construction inspection services. The contract for those services will be presented to the Lee Board of County Commissioners at an upcoming board meeting.

The Pine Island Road portion of the project in Matlacha will complete Lee County DOT’s efforts of late for Pine Island Road, with the road resurfaced essentially from the four-way stop on the main island to the east through Matlacha. This complements the work FDOT has done on Pine Island Road in Matlacha as part of the Hurricane Ian repairs.