Lee County fast-tracks safety improvements on Burnt Store Road

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

Lee County leaders are moving quickly to implement safety improvements on Burnt Store Road after many deadly crashes, aiming to make the road safer with temporary measures before a major expansion project begins.

Marty Herron, a Cape Coral resident, said, "You hear a lot of breaks, and there's occasionally an accident there."

Residents are happy to see the county approve the plan to make the road safer, but some, like Herron, believe it won't fully solve the problem. "It's something, but I think it's less than a Band-Aid at this point," Herron said.

He added that "more signage, a lot more signage might help to remind people it's just a very fast piece of road."

The project, stretching from Van Buren Parkway to the Charlotte County line, will include adding rumble strips and wider shoulders. It is just a temporary safety fix before the project to widen the road from two to four lanes begins.

Commissioners plan to use an existing contract and waive a $1 million cap to speed up the process. The total project is expected to cost just under $5 million.

The final contract still needs approval, but this move significantly accelerates the project's progress.

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