Growth plans again focus on Imperial River bridge

More specifically, how and when to build a bridge spanning the Imperial River was the key element. Transportation officials had already contracted a construction company to extend the U.S. 41 bypass from Old 41 in Collier County to Bonita Beach Road. Acquiring the right of way for the remainder of the road to the Old 41 intersection in Bonita was well under way.

The bridge, though, was being held up by environmental concerns.

Three decades later, the road is being widened to accommodate the ever-growing population of Southwest Florida, and the bridge is again a focal point of planning.

The Florida Department of Transportation had originally thought the entire bridge would need to be replaced. After testing the structure, engineers found the span to be sound and able to safely hold the extra traffic.

DOT officials said replacing the structure would cost about $16.6 million. Later, DOT officials found that the bridge was just wide enough to accommodate the three lanes plus a 10-foot shoulder for faltering vehicles. Now the plan is to connect the two bridges into one structure and restripe the existing lanes.

With a savings of more than $12 million and four years of construction time, the bridge has transformed from a delaying headache to a time and money-saving project.

"Suddenly we had a bridge that was sound and we just needed to add lanes to it," said Debbie Tower, FDOT spokesperson. "Restriping the bridge gave us just enough room to put the three lanes in each way."

While the Imperial River bridge has become one of the few examples where road construction can be done quicker and cheaper, the original bridge meant the beginning of a new Bonita and the end of Old 41 as the center of the community.

Prior to the opening of the U.S. 41 bypass, practically all business and industry was located on Old 41. The bypass, though, switched the focus of Bonita a few miles to the west.

Gas station owners such as Tom Reahard, who operated a shop on the corner of Old 41 and Terry Street, sold their businesses.

Wilma Harvard's family owned Benson's Grocery at the time and said business there was definitely affected by the new bypass.

"The big flap at the time was, 'What was it going to do to downtown?'" Harvard said. "It pretty much ruined it; but the traffic was getting pretty bad and it did help that."

With the new bypass came new development parcels. After the Center of Bonita opened on the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Bonita Beach Road, the community shopping destination had completely switched to the new section of town. After that came modern developments like Bonita Bay.

"That whole area was growing fast because the focal point had changed from the Old 41 area," Harvard said. "It was a whole different ball game, but that was OK."

Contact Staff Writer Chad Gillis at 213-6040 or cegillis@naplesnews.com