Construction on Fort Myers Beach might be lowering property values

Construction on Fort Myers Beach continues Friday, and many are worried their safety and property values are at risk. And more construction is expected to begin Monday.

A realtor told us property values on Fort Myers Beach have dropped by 15 percent this year and believes nuisance construction is partially to blame.

“It’s an eyesore,” visitor Mark Fisher said.

Torn up yards and crosswalks are among the sights on the island.

“I’m surprised nobody has been killed yet,” neighbor Don Romano said.

Romano and other neighbors along Estero Boulevard have dealt with the construction on Fort Myers Beach for years now.

“It takes you two hours to get to Publix,” Romano said. “It’s a problem. You could starve to death by then.”

Come season, traffic is bound to get worse.

”It’s just lined up bumper to bumper,” Romano said.

Town officials said the work is moving full speed ahead, with the first two project phases completed. Construction is mostly on the south end of the island, where road workers are fixing drainage and making roadways safer.

“When it does come through and it gets done and we got the nice sidewalks, I think it will be beautiful,” Romano said.

The town told us the construction is scheduled to be completed later in 2021.

And, for some, it’s worth the wait.

“It’s going to take time to get this straightened up, but we’re OK with it,” Janet Detrica said.

For More information, see live maps of the construction progress on Fort Myers Beach.