Sinkholes

Work on the runways was progressing smoothly until disaster struck on October 28, 1981. The driver of a dump truck fully loaded with sand slammed on the brakes and brought his truck to a stop at the eastern end of the runway. The driver jumped out of the cab as his truck listed to one side. Dismayed workers watched as the runway opened up and the truck sank down to the rear left axle in the first of several sinkholes that would open up on the runway. The hole was about three feet in diameter and three feet deep.

Later, when the area was excavated, the hole was found to be cone shaped with a diameter of approximately 30 feet underground. A second sinkhole appeared on January 26, 1982, an indentation only one inch deep but 10 feet in diameter.

Dr. George Gowers, a geologist and the county's sinkhole consultant, recommended the property be monitored against changes in the water table. In March, another sinkhole developed on the runway right in front of the terminal.

On July 8, 1982, the FAA ordered Lee County to tear out and reconstruct 700 feet of the 8,400 foot runway.

On July 9, 1982, the Fort Myers News-Press reported, "The county sinkhole consultant reported the collapse was caused by nearby construction drainage and was not expected to happen again."

Besides the cost of the repairs, which was projected to be approximately $4.2 million, it was now feared the repairs would delay the airport opening which Commissioners had counted on to take place May 1, 1983. The delay would create a serious financial problem. The due date for the first $1,000,000 bond payment was May 14 and, if the airport did not open, Commissioners would not receive the revenues needed by that date.

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