Lee County commissioners approve land purchase for Burnt Store Road expansion

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

Lee County commissioners signed off on buying a small piece of land needed for the future widening of Burnt Store Road North, a project that has become a top priority for the county following a deadly crash in October.

Burnt Store Road has a history of serious crashes, including one that killed Laura Lee Beasley, Norma Jean Ralston, and Gary Lee Galiher. The accident pushed commissioners to take initiative on this project.

County leaders say expanding the road will help with both traffic congestion and safety as Northwest Cape Coral continues to grow. The property sits on the west side of Burnt Store Road, just south of Kismet Parkway West in Cape Coral.

The county plans to buy about 13,000 square feet for $128,000, which includes the purchase price and closing costs. Officials say they’re paying slightly above the appraised value to lock in the property now and prevent it from being developed before construction begins.

In the meantime, the county is using temporary safety fixes such as rumble strips and increased law enforcement to monitor speeding.

This purchase is already budgeted and will be paid for using surplus toll funds, so no new taxes are required. The meeting is at commission chambers.

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