‘It’s always been like this’, or ‘It’s never been worse’

No one will argue that the traffic on Fort Myers Beach this winter has caused a lot of misery.

What’s debatable, especially if you follow the various Fort Myers Beach Facebook groups, is where this 2024-25 season ranks on the worst traffic ever meter.

There are those who like to tell people to calm down and remind us that “it’s always like this during season.”

Then there are are others who are saying: “I’ve never seen it this bad. Ever.”

The News-Press and Naples Daily News photographer Andrew West was recently on Fort Myers Beach to check out the traffic situation. He produced this photo gallery that shows traffic jams getting on and off the beach and along various locations on Estero Boulevard.

Photos: Traffic a big story on Fort Myers Beach

One contributor to the traffic mess is the Florida Department of Transportation’s San Carlos Boulevard (SR 865) road improvement project that includes the Matanzas Pass Bridge. The bottom line: the project is supposed to help make the traffic flow better.

According to the FDOT project page:

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), District One, is making improvements along San Carlos Boulevard (State Road (S.R.) 865) from north of Crescent Street to north of Hurricane Pass Bridge in Lee County.

More: Traffic clogs Fifth Avenue South in Naples

Improvements include:

• Modifying the Matanzas Pass Bridge to accommodate shared-use path, converting the existing southbound Bus/Bicycle-Only lane to a general use travel lane, and converting the existing southbound right-turn-only lane approaching Main Street to a general use travel lane that will continue across the Matanzas Pass Bridge.

• Additionally, San Carlos Boulevard from Main Street to Hurricane Pass Bridge will be restriped to accommodate bicycle lanes in each direction of travel.

• Signalization upgrades will be made with a new traffic signal constructed at Main Street, and the alternating signal at Prescott Street/Buttonwood Drive will be adjusted to operate as a conventional signal.

• The purpose of the project is to provide additional travel options on a congested corridor, especially during the peak tourist season (January – April).

• The project will enhance mobility and safety for vehicular and non-vehicular transportation and increase accessibility and connections between community points of interest.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: What’s the best time to beat the traffic on Fort Myers Beach?