CAPE CORAL, Fla. — One day there may be a safer way to cross Cape Coral Parkway, by the Cape Coral Bridge. Lee County Commissioners are voting tomorrow on four options being considered to protect pedestrians with the reconstruction of the new bridge.

The city is expecting a significant increase in pedestrian traffic with the new $20 million food truck park planned near the welcome center. Cape Coral Parkway expanding to six lanes will also make it more difficult to cross.

“As we’re growing as a community, the congestion is growing more and more,” said Lisa Dimaio, a realtor and resident in the Cape. “It’s a safety issue when you have to run across the street and dodge cars.”

The first option being considered is a walking bridge between the planned food truck park and the welcome center with ramps on both sides, allowing you to easily get to new proposed sidewalks, along the water.

Option two is also a pedestrian bridge… but one end is closer to the river by Bernice Braden Park.

The third option would be a diagonal walkway across the parkway, from SE 17th PL, to near where the Harbor Heights Condos are. If this option was chosen it would require extensive reconstruction of a parking lot in both Clipper Bay Condos and Harbor Heights.

Option four, some type of crosswalk instead of a bridge, with traffic signals. However, the study being presented to the county found that option four would require an opening in the median barrier planned for Cape Coral Parkway.

Some people ABC7 talked to like Dimaio prefer option three because it’s a closer proximity to downtown.

“They can enjoy the restaurants, maybe take a stroll down by the businesses, and it would be safer to hop back and forth,” said Dimaio.

Others like Jessica May, another Cape Coral resident, favor one of the first two options, connecting the pedestrian bridge to parts of the parks.

“Because a lot of people fish over there,” said May. “You could bring families, go fishing, walk the park and be safe.”

According to the study, the proposed roadway improvements require the travel lanes to be separated with a median barrier wall that will prevent pedestrians from crossing Cape Coral Parkway. This median barrier wall extends 2,760 feet from the bridge limits up to Del Prado Boulevard.

The Cape Coral Bridge Replacement Project is estimated to cost approximately $300 million, with construction expected to start in 2026.