By John Fry
Special to the Gazette
The intersection at Beth Stacey, Business Way and Ridgecrest Street may be in for change.
At a meeting held from 4:30 to 7 pm April 12 at the Microtel Inn and Suites, 1320 Business Way, Lee County Department of Transportation officials and Stanley Consultants Inc. representatives answered questions from Lehigh Acres residents about the proposed Beth Stacey Round -A-Bout .
Freddie Vargas of Stanley Consultants Inc. said the proposed round-a-bout was a result of “traffic counts and computer modeling.” He also stated he had waited 45 seconds during off-peak hours at the intersection. The projected average waiting time if a round-a-bout is in place would be 7.9 seconds, Vargas said. Peak hours occur during both morning and evening rush hours.
Not all Lehigh Acres Residents are convinced. John Mertz said, “I’m baffled. I don’t think we need it.”
The cost for the round-a-bout is estimated to be a half million dollars. Gary Warchol of the Lehigh Acres Community Council responded, “I don’t believe the cost of $500,000 dollars warrants it. I would rather it (a round-a-bout) be at Homestead and Beth Stacey at this point. I would rather it (the round-a-bout) work into the community comprehensive plan.”
At 1600 Ridgecrest Street, Al Parameter will live right across from the proposed round-a-bout, he said “I think they ought to put in sidewalks, and some turning lanes with signal lights.” The Lee County pamphlet indicates that while the initial cost of a round-a-bout is greater than an upgrade for traffic signals and turning lanes there will be saving from “operation and maintenance costs.” As well as “additional savings…achieved through a reduction in travel delays and crashes.”
George Kilmer, a Lehigh Acres resident from Parkwood II said, “They just black topped Parkwood II. The biggest problem with a round-a-bout is no pedestrian walk ways.” Parkwood II is a community with an entrance on Ridgecrest Street. Richard Battison, also from Parkwood II, said he was “totally against this particular round-a-bout.” Battison said he would rather have “a left hand turn with a signal light.”
Sara Clarke from Lee County Transportation, said, “This is not set in stone. We are here to get Lehigh Acres’ opinions and feedback.” Steve Jansen of Stanley Consultants Inc. made a similar remark stating, “This is a workshop, it’s about citizen’s opinions . That’s why there are comment cards, and an open discussion. The county is not here to shove anything down anyone’s throat.” Kris Cella of Cella, Molnar, and Associates, Inc. said she was “just here to answer questions.”
Commissioner Frank Mann also said he wanted public opinion concerning the round-a-bout saying, “We won’t go without the public’s embrace of the project. That’s why we have these workshops, to let the public express themselves.”
Not all public opinion was against the round-a-bouts. Julia Ramos said, “I live in Parkwood. I always have to cross the intersection. A lot of people don’t use their turn signals. I think it’s a good idea. It might slow down the speeders. It’s a good idea or perhaps use stop lights.”
Some thought back to the recently built 23rd and Sunshine Round-A-Bout. “I think it’s ludicrous to put in another round-a-bout. Twenty-third and Sunshine is worse than “Confusion Corner”(Alabama, Leland Heights and Homestead Road) before the stop lights were put in 25 years ago. People don’t understand the right of way, cut each other off, and then hot rod just thru the intersection anyway,” said Nancy Ricciardi of Lehigh Acres.
The county will review citizen comments before additional action concerning the intersection is taken.