Residents fed up with relentless noise from unfinished pump station in Cape Coral

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

Residents along Andalusia Boulevard say the constant rumble from a master pump station has become overwhelming, with diesel-powered pumps disrupting daily life in their neighborhood.

Neighbors tell Gulf Coast News the master pump station at Andalusia Boulevard and Northeast 21st Terrace was supposed to be completed last July. Months later, construction remains unfinished, and the temporary diesel pumps continue to turn on and off throughout the day.

“That sound is diesel-powered pumps running,” said Larry Soeller, who lives directly across the street from the station. “The biggest issue has been the noise and the length of time to do it.”

The pump station serves the North 1 West Utility Expansion Project area. According to residents, diesel pumps were added as a temporary solution while construction was ongoing. But nearly two years after work began, the temporary fix has become a long-term nuisance.

“The issue is the city demanded people connect to it before it was finished,” Soeller said. “Once it’s finished and they take away the diesel pumps, it’ll be quiet.”

For now, the intermittent noise and vibration have forced some homeowners to make costly changes. Soeller and his wife say they’ve had to soundproof their home to cope with the impact.

“With the noise, it vibrates your home,” said Susan Soeller. “It messes with your nervous system after a while, to the point that you have to wear hearing protection.”

Other neighbors echo those concerns. Nicole Malin says she replaced her hurricane windows in an attempt to block out the noise, but the vibration remains.

“I’ve replaced my hurricane windows with brand new ones, and it still shakes,” Malin said. “You can still feel the vibration, and we’re looking at $20,000 out of pocket just for windows.”

Even when the pumps are not running, residents say the uncertainty has taken a toll.

“You hear it at the last minute,” Malin said. “I’ve put up my house four times now, and I can’t sell it.”

Soeller says he has emailed the City of Cape Coral several times with little response. City officials say they are currently testing noise levels in the area. It’s unclear when construction on the master pump station will be completed or when the diesel pumps will be removed.

Residents say until then, the noise remains a daily problem they’re hoping the city will soon address.

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