Collier County road project leaves residents without mail delivery

NAPLES, Fla. (WINK)—A Collier County man says a road widening project in his community is causing a major problem for people trying to get their mail.

Residents along Everglades Boulevard North say their mailboxes were moved during construction, and now USPS has stopped delivering to some of those homes. 

Thomas Richardson calls this part of Collier County home. For more than 10 years, he says he made sure his mailbox followed all USPS guidelines.

"There is a law or some type of policy between the post office and our communities that the mailbox have to be this height and this far away from the street, and I made sure that happened," Richardson said.

But recent road work along Everglades Boulevard North changed that. Richardson says construction crews moved his mailbox farther back.

"My mailbox was moved from the road in, in more, and I got a notice from the United States Postal Services that they will no longer be delivering me mail because of the placement of my mailbox," Richardson said.

The letter states mail carriers must be able to reach the mailbox without leaving their vehicle or reversing. Until the issue is fixed, neighbors are being told to pick up their mail at the post office.

Richardson says the trip is about 15 miles each way. 

"At $4.50 a gallon of gasoline, it's a little bit of an inconvenience. Now I have to go pick up my mail because of somebody else that moved it," Richardson said.

USPS sent WINK News a statement saying, "We are aware of customer concerns regarding temporary and unanticipated delivery disruptions due to a construction project on Everglades Boulevard North in Naples. As a result of actions taken by another party, our carriers are unable to safely access some areas within the construction zone."

Shortly after calling Collier County Transportation, crews were on site at Richardson's home moving his mailbox back to its original spot. 

Richardson says he doesn't blame the construction crews. 

"I'm pleased with the project. I'm pleased with the people that are working on the project," Richardson said.

But he says people shouldn't be left without mail delivery because of changes they didn't make themselves.