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MPO orders fresh look at Old 41 study after FDOT flags $75M right-of-way, floodplain costs
Summary
FDOT presented a PD&E study for Old 41 that would widen most Collier County sections to four lanes and add bike/ped facilities; consultants estimated about $75 million in right-of-way costs and substantial floodplain compensation, prompting the MPO to instruct staff to refocus on intersection fixes and smaller shared-use improvements.
FDOT project staff and consultants summarized a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study for County Road 877 (Old 41) that proposes widening much of the Collier County portion to four lanes and adding a shared‑use path, bike lanes and sidewalk. The board voted to ask staff for a narrower analysis focused on intersection improvements and shared‑use facilities instead of full corridor four‑laning.
FDOT project manager Stephen Andrews said the project spans roughly three miles, about 1.5 miles in Collier County, and that the preferred alternative currently envisions four lanes through Collier with bike lanes and a west‑side shared‑use path and an east‑side sidewalk. Consultant Matt Dawkins told the board that the team had tentatively identified floodplain compensation sites, and that the right‑of‑way and relocation costs could be substantial. "Somewhere in the range of about $75,000,000 of right of way costs," Dawkins said, and staff noted that the Water Management District now requires "cup for cup" floodplain compensation rather than expanding conveyance to tidal waters.
Several commissioners questioned whether widening the entire corridor is the best near‑term approach. One member argued that congestion primarily occurs at the intersections at each end of the corridor and that targeted intersection work plus a shared‑use facility could address safety and flow at a lower cost. FDOT and the consultant acknowledged intersection improvements would yield traffic benefits and said models had included planned Veterans Memorial Boulevard work.
After discussion, Commissioner Saunders moved — and the board seconded and approved — a motion directing staff and FDOT to take a "deeper dive" that concentrates analysis on intersection fixes and alternative, lower‑impact shared‑use facilities rather than proceeding immediately on a full four‑lane widening. FDOT staff said they will return with more focused analysis and will try to keep the PD&E finish date before new stormwater rules take effect in June 2026, when pond and treatment requirements could change project needs.
The board also discussed whether some floodplain compensation sites could be hydraulically connected and whether county conservation lands or nearby utility corridor land (FPL) might be available to reduce impacts; FDOT said it will investigate those options and report back. The public hearing on a preferred alternative is planned for later in the year, with final design funding decisions to follow.
The board's direction narrows the immediate scope for Old 41: staff will prioritize intersection alternatives, shared‑use paths, and lower‑cost safety measures while FDOT updates cost and compensation analyses for the corridor.
