Lehigh Acres residents are excited about a potential sidewalk project aimed at improving student safety near Mirror Lakes Elementary School. The area around Charwood Avenue South near Grant Blvd currently lacks sidewalks.
Sonia Fonseca, a Lehigh Acres resident, expressed concern about the dangers posed by speeding cars.
“It’s dangerous because the cars speed and there’s like seven kids that take the bus besides my granddaughter,” said Fonseca.
The proposed sidewalk project would connect Milwaukee Boulevard to Grant Boulevard, filling existing sidewalk gaps. Lee County is applying for a Safe Routes to School grant from the Florida Department of Transportation to fund the project.
Teri-Ann Petrekin Towns, principal of Mirror Lakes Elementary, highlighted the need for sidewalks.
“The need is here for our school because we have a large population of students who are walkers and bikers,” said Petrekin Towns.
Fonseca emphasized the safety issues on Charwood Avenue, noting traffic congestion and speeding cars.
Petrekin Towns also mentioned that the lack of sidewalks forces students to cross busy roads, posing significant safety risks.
“A lot of students, it’s not safe for them to walk even if they’re under two miles because they have to cross over a busy road,” said Petrekin Towns.
The Lee County Department of Transportation held a meeting on Thursday at Mirror Lakes to discuss the competitive nature of grant funding for the project. If approved, the design could begin within five years, with construction taking an additional one to two years.
Fonseca expressed relief at the potential for increased safety, especially for her granddaughter who takes the bus from the area.
“It makes me feel good because my granddaughter takes the bus every morning there, so every day I’m watching her until she gets on the bus and leaves to school,” she said.
The project aims to create safer routes for students by addressing sidewalk gaps and improving walkability in the area.
Lee County DOT continues to prioritize student safety by identifying and addressing gaps in the sidewalk system near schools. The department collaborates with the school district to ensure safe routes for students.
Lee County shared projects that have applied for the SRTS grant program.
- Tanglewood Pkwy/Manchester Blvd. – Constructed 2018
- Lehigh Elementary Richmond Ave. Sidewalk – Recently Constructed
- Three Oaks School – Grant Received
- Harns Marsh School – Grant Received
- Mirror Lakes School Sidewalk – Applying