Charlotte County to begin work on Kings Highway widening

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — Charlotte County is about to start work on a road expansion project that has some neighbors excited. 

The county said it will start widening part of Kings Highway on Monday, turning it into a four-lane highway. The project will stretch between Sandhill Boulevard, just north of I-75, and the DeSoto County line. 

The county plans to add a median, street lighting, sidewalks, and protected turn lanes. Neighbors said traffic has increased as nearby neighborhoods have grown. The project is just west of the Deep Creek neighborhood.  

"It is really long overdue," said Mahlon Miller, who has lived in Deep Creek for almost 50 years. 

"It'll be so much safer, because two-lane roads like that are so dangerous," Miller said. "I look forward to seeing them get started and getting it finished up as soon as they can."

County commissioners approved the contract in February. The $10.5 million project is expected to be completed next October, according to the county. 

It's part of a larger plan for the area. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is proposing to expand Kings Highway through a small portion of DeSoto County, just north of the Lake Suzy neighborhood. 

"The place is developing more and more," said Stephanie Downie, who has lived in Deep Creek for more than 30 years. "It's needed."