The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted May 6 to approve an agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation to accept about $2 million in federal funding for construction and inspection services for a sidewalk along Bell Boulevard from Sunrise Boulevard to Albermarle Circle in Lehigh Acres.

The project consists of a new concrete sidewalk extension on the east side of Bell Boulevard from Sunrise Boulevard to Shadow Lakes Drive, then will cross Bell Boulevard at a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon intersection and continue on the west side of the road to Albemarle Circle.

The project also includes a new steel pedestrian bridge crossing Jim’s Canal. The new sidewalk will connect to an existing sidewalk on the north end of the project at Albemarle Circle and will connect to the sidewalk being constructed now at the south end near Sunrise Boulevard. The design of the project is complete.

The construction contract will be put out to bid and come back to the board for approval.