Natacha Casal
•6/13/2026
Residents in Lehigh Acres are voicing concerns about a large pothole on 18th Street, which they believe was caused by a washout during recent rains and poses a safety risk. "During the rainy season, these kinds of potholes keep forming there," said Fernando Lamelas, a local resident, describing how potholes frequently form during the rainy season.The neighborhood is surrounded by long stretches of dirt roads, and residents like Lamelas worry that road conditions will continue to deteriorate. "Every time motorcycles pass—often ridden by young people, including minors—the holes just keep getting wider," Lamelas said, explaining that motorcycles, often ridden by minors, are making the holes even larger. Gulf Coast meteorologist Raphael Tavernier said recent rainfall may be contributing to the issue. "Sometimes we can see some of that runoff in certain counties, especially for those that aren't really paved or, you know, roads that are like, you know, I would say clay or dirt roads, you can definitely see that, that water runoff," Tavernier said. Other residents, like Angel Martinez, said they have contacted the county about the growing problem but have yet to see significant action. "Regarding the potholes and everything else, the response we get is that they’ll pave the road in a year or two—provided the budget is ready. The area has really grown, and we need the County to step up a bit more; all the neighbors moving in here are dealing with this situation on this street," Martinez said, urging the county to take more responsibility as the area continues to grow.The Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District has been contacted for comment, but no response has been received yet.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
