Roadwork detours traffic on Santa Barbara Boulevard and Nicholas Parkway in Cape Coral

A water pipe replacement project and roadwork at Santa Barbara Boulevard and Nicholas Parkway in Cape Coral has been drawing complaints from frustrated drivers, but the snarled intersection could reopen this week, a council member said.

The main construction zone stretches between Santa Barbara and Country Club Boulevard. It is estimated to be completed in the spring of 2023. 

The project is currently in its first phase, and the two-way lanes have been reduced to one in each direction between those roads. 

Crews are replacing 6,000 water pipes with larger ones and making new storm drainage improvements to reduce flooding.

The roadway pavement will also be reconstructed for smoother flow, new sidewalks, and asphalt resurfacing.

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Motorist should expect lane shifts and detours during the work. The contractors will be working weekdays between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. with some night and weekend work expected. 

Councilmember Tom Hayden said the work has brought in many complaints but believes it will be worth it in the end. 

"I think anytime there's detours, changing traffic flows, it's just frustrating for people, but it was work that needs to be done to get that water line in," Hayden said. 

He's hopeful that the intersection of Santa Barbara Boulevard and Nicholas Parkway will open up this week by Friday.

"It was necessary to do it the way they did it. Shut the road down, provide the detours," Hayden said. "We did a better job of marking the detours the next day after there were some complaints, so I think that helped with traffic.