$500K to be spent on Punta Rassa boat ramp improvements

PUNTA RASSA, Fla.- The Punta Rassa boat ramp, the most widely used boat ramp in Lee County, will be undergoing more than $500,000 in repairs.

An inspection of the boat ramp uncovered the concrete ramps are about 40 years old and need to be redone, while parts of the docks also need to be replaced.

“The bigger boats they have a problem, my boat’s not so big so I don’t have a problem,” said boater Doug Cool. “On some of the tides, the big boats just can’t get down far enough without going off the end.”

“This is a busy, busy road ramp, so I think especially the boat ramps, they need to be extended or widened or whatever they can do to help it out,” said John Stark.

Some boaters say they were unaware of the improvements the boat ramp needed.

“I always thought it was a well-kept, maintained boat ramp. I didn’t realize how old it was, I thought it was new and in good shape,” said Heidi Lussier.

Boater registration money will be used to pay for the repairs, according to Lee County commissioners.

“I think that’s what they should use it for, that’s what it’s for,” added Stark.

The work is expected to begin in the summer and last a couple of months. Boaters will see partial closures during construction.

“I’m hopeful that when they do redesign it, they will hide the bolts and we don’t run into it with our halls and scratch it cause it does happen when tide is low,” said Cool. “I’m sure that when they get it redone, it’s going to be a lot safer for the boaters.”