Lee County cyclist raises safety concerns along Summerlin Road

FORT MYERS, Fla. — A Lee County man says he can’t take a bike ride along one of the area’s busiest roads without coming across hazards he believes have been sitting there for years.

Jason Gerrish brought his concerns, and dozens of photos, to WINK Listens, documenting what he says are ongoing problems along Summerlin Road that drivers may not notice while passing through at highway speeds.

“There are a number of things that I’ve noticed as I cycle that route a lot, including dilapidated, abandoned utility boxes,” Gerrish said. “It almost seems like they’re forgotten.”

Gerrish says he has counted more than 80 locations near Winkler Road that he believes need work. He says nearly every ride turns into another round of documentation — capturing irrigation pipes sticking out of the ground, broken sidewalk edges with steep drops, sand and gravel where cyclists ride, and fencing knocked down near the Shell Point Preserve.

“To see the conditions like that, it just…I felt like it kind of looks poorly on us as to how we maintain and take care of our community,” Gerrish said.

He says the concerns aren’t just about appearance.

“Open wires, hanging out… there is a safety concern there,” Gerrish said.

WINK News went out to see the area and found the conditions Gerrish documented were still present, including utility boxes left open and exposed.

Gerrish says he has contacted the county multiple times, sent emails, and eventually filed a formal Request for Action, but felt little had changed.

“It just seemed like several months went by,” he said.

In an email response to WINK News, a county spokesperson said the utility equipment visible along Summerlin Road is not maintained by the county, but by a private utility company.

The spokesperson did not identify which company is responsible, and WINK News is working to find that information.

As for the damaged fencing near the Shell Point Preserve, the county said the fence is located on private property and is the responsibility of the property owner.

The county said crews are looking into Gerrish’s other concerns.

Gerrish says he initially blamed Hurricane Ian for some of the damage, but believes the issues have now lingered far longer.

“It’s over three years, and it just seems like, okay, this still looks pretty bad,” Gerrish said. “Something ought to be done to improve it.”

He says that’s why he decided to bring his concerns to WINK Listens — hoping those responsible hear him too.