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Six-lane study for Cape Coral Parkway shows crash history and parking tradeoffs; engineers eye retiming and parking reallocation
Summary
Consultants reported a 30%-complete study for converting Cape Coral Parkway (between Coronado and Del Prado) to six lanes, citing up to 200 crashes per year on the corridor, long morning eastbound travel times, and an estimated loss of about 47 curbside parking spaces that will need reallocation.
City consultants briefed the CRA March 12 on a study of a proposed six-lane configuration for Cape Coral Parkway between Coronado Parkway and Del Prado Boulevard, describing safety data, travel-time impacts and parking-replacement needs.
Study findings: Consultants said travel-time measurements show heavy eastbound morning delays—one slide cited a travel time that can reach up to 56 minutes across the corridor during a weekday morning peak—and crash data across the five-year period reviewed show as many as 200 crashes per year, including rear-end, left-turn and sideswipe collisions. The team recommended signal retiming (an 11-intersection retiming from Chiquita to Del Prado is planned) and coordination with Lee County (which controls the traffic signals) to improve corridor travel times.
Parking and right-of-way impacts: The analysis identified roughly 1,194 linear feet of curbside parking adjacent to the travel lanes—equivalent to about 47 typical vehicle spaces—that could be displaced by the added travel lane and curb adjustments. The team is identifying potential replacement areas in adjacent segments where parking already exists and is also evaluating side streets for angled parking as a mitigation option. Consultants noted constraints such as trees in the clear zone (21 trees identified as conflicts), 19 concrete bollards and one fire hydrant that will require design solutions.
Design constraints and specific intersections: The Coronado intersection requires special treatment because high volumes of right-turning traffic make it necessary to retain the existing right-turn lane there; the project team is studying where to transition from two to three lanes in a way that preserves right-turn capacity and minimizes property acquisition. Right-of-way in some locations reaches the curb and sidewalk, leaving little room for expansion without taking property, but the team said design options—lane deflection, curb reconfiguration and limited acquisition—are being studied.
Next steps and timeline: The study is at roughly 30% completion for design and data collection; consultants will continue weekend and weekday occupancy counts, refine retiming plans with the county, coordinate with the city arborist on tree impacts and produce final plans suitable for project bidding. No construction schedule or final cost estimates were presented to the CRA at this meeting.
Ending: Commissioners asked about potential near-term mitigation, the availability of angled-parking conversion on side streets, and a target corridor level of service; consultants said the project aims for acceptable arterial level of service (level D or better) and will return with refined findings and recommendations.
