In a letter to the advisory council, Glen Ahlert, staff director of the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization, says the widening project is necessary because U.S. 41 is "the only north-south principal arterial serving the Bonita Springs area," which is "one of the fastest growing areas in the entire state." According to Ahlert, U.S. 41 "is the focus of intense commercial development pressure, including a proposed regional shopping center a short distance north of this project."

Neither Ahlert or any other city or county officials could be reached to give details regarding the "intense commercial development pressure" in the area. Barbara Barnes-Buchanan, assistant city manager for Bonita Springs, says a large mall project at Coconut Road and U.S. 41 is under consideration.

The $8 million grant, along with $1 million from the city of Bonita Springs, will be applied toward the widening of the 5.6 miles of the highway that runs through the city. The remainder of the $40, including $11 from Gov. Bush's economic stimulus package, announced in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, has already been allocated over the next three years.