The heartbreaking loss of three lives on Burnt Store Road Monday night has once again thrust this perilous stretch of roadway into the public eye, demanding immediate attention from our local leaders. As a Cape Coral resident deeply invested in the safety and well-being of our community, I am compelled to call for swift collaboration between Lee County and Cape Coral to finally widen the remaining 5.7 miles of this deadly corridor.
Burnt Store Road, under the ownership and jurisdiction of Lee County, has become a symbol of neglected infrastructure amid Southwest Florida’s rapid growth. The fatal crash occurred in the unwidened section, where narrow lanes and heavy traffic create hazardous conditions for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. This isn’t an isolated incident; the road’s history of accidents highlights a systemic failure to keep pace with development in North Cape Coral and surrounding areas.
At Tuesday’s Lee County Board of Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Brian Hamman articulated the urgency many of us feel: “Burnt Store Road is a road that is critically needed to be widened. I know we want to get this last 5.7 miles of Burnt Store Road widened. This is a road I’d like us see us widen as soon as possible.” His words resonate, but words alone won’t save lives. The estimated cost to expand this final segment to a safer four-lane divided highway ranges from $150 to $190 million-a daunting figure that Lee County cannot shoulder alone…