Fort Myers roads leave residents swerving to avoid damage

Uneven roads in Fort Myers are causing a bumpy ride for residents.

Two longtime residents voiced their concerns at a WINK Listens event, claiming that their neighborhood streets have been neglected for years.

Yvette and Christopher Wilson said driving along Michigan and Marsh Avenues is not only dangerous, but also damaging to their vehicles.

"I see a lot of cars swerving to avoid those bumps in the road," said Yvette Wilson.

Wilson said she tries to find another route to avoid driving along the roads, which have caused damage to her car.

When asked about the cost of repairs, she laughed and said, "Probably over $700, $800."

Two years ago, WINK News highlighted a massive pothole on Michigan Avenue that caused car after car to bottom out. The city patched it several times, but residents are still dealing with an uneven ride.

"It's frustrating, you know? And seems like they are looking over our neighborhood," said Christopher Wilson.

Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson admitted the city is behind on road maintenance.

"Our roads have been neglected for a good 10-15 years, so now we're playing catch-up," said Anderson.

The mayor also noted that the city has repaved more than 100 miles of roads, prioritizing those in the worst condition.

"If we have plans to do utility work, it doesn't make sense to resurface a road only to come back and tear it up," Anderson said.

The Wilsons expressed their frustration, saying, "Somebody has to come forth and say something about it so we can get something done in our area."

A Fort Myers spokesperson told WINK News that there are plans to repave Michigan Avenue from Seaboard Street to Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard. The project is still in the design phase and should be ready for construction bids in the summer.

On Marsh Avenue, the situation is more complicated. The city said it has repaved its portion from Ballard Road to Michigan Avenue, but the county owns the section north of Ballard to Palm Beach Boulevard.

A county spokesperson said repaving work for that section of Marsh Avenue is scheduled to start in January.