Army Corps permit clears Placida West Boat Ramp expansion for planned 2027 construction

A federal permit has cleared the next major step for Charlotte County’s planned expansion of the Placida West Boat Ramp, but construction has not started. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the project permit on June 18, 2026, according to the county’s project page, which was updated July 15.

The expansion would increase boat-launch capacity and add accessibility features at the Placida facility. The county project page places the work in Placida, with access from Placida Road and the Boca Grande Causeway.

What the project includes

The master plan includes six launch lanes and additional trailer parking. It also calls for boarding piers, a restroom building, pavilions and shade structures, an ADA-accessible kayak launch, and an ice-vending machine.

Those features remain part of the planned project. The county identifies the project as being in design development, meaning it has not yet reached the construction stage. The federal permit is not the same as a final county construction approval, and the permit milestone does not mean all planned amenities are guaranteed to be delivered on the listed schedule.

$7 million project schedule

Charlotte County lists the total project budget at $7 million. The breakdown includes $900,000 for design, $5.8 million for construction and $300,000 in other costs. The county identifies a 2014 local-option-sales-tax source for the project, but its page does not state whether all construction funding has been fully appropriated.

Florida Premier Contractors is listed as the construction contractor. The current schedule calls for construction to begin February 24, 2027. Completion is forecast for May 19, 2028, followed by turnover and closeout through July 19, 2028.

For residents, boaters and businesses that depend on access to the ramp, the practical effect is that a larger, more accessible facility is planned but remains in the future. The county has not provided a current construction bid-award date or a detailed plan for temporary access during the work.

Placida capital planning continues

The county also maintains a separate active project page for a Placida-area recovery site at Placida Park. That page confirms continuing county capital and recovery planning in the same area, but it does not change the ramp expansion’s status or schedule.

The next major scheduled milestone for the boat-ramp project is the planned February 24, 2027, construction start. Until then, the expansion remains a permitted project in design development rather than an active construction site.