LaBelle Bridge Closing July 5th

$5 Million Project Will Close LaBelle Bridge For Month

LABELLE, FL. -- A large construction project on the LaBelle Drawbridge will close down the bridge and State Road 29 traffic over the Caloosahatchee River in July and August while delays may be experienced through 2011.

During some work activity, the State Road 29 drawbridge will be closed to motor vehicle traffic. Variable message boards will be placed at locations in Glades and Hendry Counties to alert drivers to bridge closures:

- 24/7 full bridge closure from July 5 (after 10 p.m.7/5) through August 8, 2010
- 20 nighttime/overnight full bridge closures (8 p.m. – 5 a.m.)
- 20 nighttime/overnight one lane closures (8 p.m. – 5 a.m.)
(Flaggers will direct two-way traffic using one lane on the bridge.)

Garbage collection in North LaBelle, north of the bridge, will start at 6 a.m. because of the construction in July and through August 8th. South of the bridge, collection may be delayed from the normal hours of collection.

The bridge construction job started June 1, 2010 and will finish early 2011, weather permitting. The department's contractor will be making electrical, mechanical, and structural repairs to the bridge. This $5 million rehabilitation project will extend the service life of the bridge approximately 15 years with continued routine maintenance.

Local traffic, with the exception of heavy trucks and other heavy vehicles, may use the Ft. Denaud Bridge. Motorists are advised the Ft. Denaud Bridge has a 5-ton weight restriction. Expect heavier than normal traffic on Ft. Denaud Road.

The detour route during bridge closures will be State Road 78 and State Road 80 (east/west) and State Road 29 and U.S. 27 (north/south). Other routes also are available depending on destinations.

The Alva bridge is also under construction and has a 30-ton weight restriction. No through truck traffic is permitted at the Alva Bridge.

(3-D LaBelle Bridge Photo by Don Browne -click on image to see how to make a 3-D photo)