Midpoint Memorial Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Midpoint Memorial Bridge |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Coordinates | 26°36′2.59″N 81°54′2.60″W / 26.6007194°N 81.9007222°W |
| Carries |  CR 884 |
| Crosses | Caloosahatchee River |
| Locale | Fort Myers and Cape Coral, Florida |
| Other name(s) | Midpoint Bridge |
| Owner | Lee County |
| Maintained by | Lee County |
| ID number | 124096 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Concrete girder |
| Width | 81 feet (25 m) |
| Longest span | 95 feet (29 m) |
| Clearance below | 55 feet (17 m) |
| History | |
| Construction cost | $175 million |
| Opened | October 19, 1997 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 57,350 (2017) |
| Toll | $2 (westbound traffic only) |
The Midpoint Memorial Bridge, often called the Midpoint Bridge, is a big bridge in Southwest Florida. It crosses the Caloosahatchee River, connecting two cities: Fort Myers and Cape Coral. This bridge has four lanes and is about one and a quarter miles long.
It's called the Midpoint Bridge because it's located roughly halfway between the Cape Coral Bridge to the south and the Caloosahatchee Bridge to the north. The bridge carries County Road 884. On the Fort Myers side, this road is known as Colonial Boulevard, and on the Cape Coral side, it's called Veterans Parkway.
The bridge is owned by the Lee County Department of Transportation. If you drive westbound (towards Cape Coral), there is a $2 toll. There is no toll if you are driving eastbound (towards Fort Myers). You can pay the toll using Florida's SunPass system or Lee County's Leeway system. These systems also work on the Cape Coral Bridge and the Sanibel Causeway.
Cool Memorials on Each Side
On the Cape Coral side of the bridge, there is a special statue. It's a copy of the famous statue from the Marine Corps War Memorial in Rosslyn, Virginia. This statue shows six U.S. Marines raising the American flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.
On the Fort Myers side, there is a smaller memorial. This one honors those who served in the Vietnam War.
Building the Bridge
People first talked about building a second bridge between Cape Coral and Fort Myers way back in the 1970s. But it took many years for construction to start. There was a lot of disagreement, especially in Fort Myers.
After some legal challenges, construction finally began in 1995. The Midpoint Memorial Bridge officially opened for traffic on October 19, 1997. Interestingly, the bridge's current spot was considered for the Cape Coral Bridge back in 1959, before that bridge was built in its current location.
The Midpoint Memorial Bridge was built as part of a bigger project. This project extended Colonial Boulevard into Cape Coral. Before the bridge, Colonial Boulevard ended at McGregor Boulevard. In Cape Coral, Veterans Parkway now goes all the way to Pine Island Road. This new bridge also led to other road improvements in Fort Myers. Colonial Boulevard was made wider, and new overpasses were built to help traffic flow better.
Images for kids
-
The Toll Plaza in 2007 when tolls were still two way
-
Iwo Jima Memorial replica on the Cape Coral side
-
Vietnam War Memorial on the Fort Myers side under construction
-
The bridge as seen from the Horton Park & Boat Ramp at the end of Everest Parkway in Cape Coral (2008)
