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Fort Myers approves $222,000 emergency repairs after utility‑line strike on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Summary
The City of Fort Myers authorized emergency repairs and a negotiated contract after a contractor hit an unmarked city utility line, approving about $222,000 in work to stabilize and permanently repair the roadway with FDOT oversight.
The City of Fort Myers on Jan. 20 authorized an emergency contract to repair undermining on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard after a contractor struck an unmarked city utility line on Dec. 16.
City staff told the council staff and FDOT responded to the damage and negotiated with Wright Construction for a permanent repair. The proposal presented to the council included night work, flowable fill and asphalt work and an allowance for inspection. Staff described the contract amount as roughly $222,000 with contingency to cover overnight scheduling and on‑site city staff oversight. Council approved the motion to proceed.
Engineering staff described the city’s legal and fiscal exposure. "So it is the city's. It was not a marked line," the engineer stated, explaining the line was not in the city's GIS and had not been marked through the 811 process. Council members asked about liability and payment; staff said the line is city‑owned and that risk management had reviewed the situation.
FDOT is involved because the affected lanes fall on a state road; staff said FDOT will require permitting and has provided direction on the permanent repair details. City staff said the work is expected to take several evenings to complete and that further inspection and ancillary contracts (for inspection and possible additional work) may follow.
The council voted to approve the emergency repair contract and funding authorization; there was no roll‑call tally reported in the record other than the chair declaring the motion carried. The project is expected to proceed immediately with coordination between city engineers, the contractor and FDOT.
