A road in Charlotte County is deteriorating quickly, with potholes creating hazards for drivers. Southwest Kings Way Circle is a private, non-commissioned road, which complicates the situation as the county does not own it.
Residents brought their concerns to a WINK Listens event to seek clarity on who is responsible for the road’s upkeep. WINK News anchor Russ McCaskey investigated the issue.
When driving down Southwest Kings Way Circle, drivers immediately encounter orange cones marking deep potholes. Deborah DePersio and Teresa Blank, local residents, expressed their frustration.
“People in the neighborhood have been trying for years to get somebody to pay attention to this road, because it slowly is deteriorating, and with every storm, it gets worse,” said DePersio and Blank.
They attended the WINK Listens event in Punta Gorda to highlight the road’s poor condition.
“If we had to get an emergency vehicle in there, it would — fire, ambulance — they could not get in there at night or if it rains. You can’t tell what it is. Right. You can’t tell what is a hole and what is a road,” said the residents.
Initially, DePersio and Blank approached Charlotte County officials.
“When you talk to Charlotte County, what do they say? It’s a non-commissioned road. It’s not the responsibility of Charlotte County. It’s the responsibility of the people who live on that road,” they said.
WINK News confirmed this with the county. The road has existed for decades, but neighbors said construction by a homebuilder has worsened its condition.
“He is building. He has cleared nine lots on Kings Way Circle. And the road, I mean, as you can imagine, wasn’t in great shape to begin with, but now it’s become almost impassable,” said Blank.
Brock Homes, identified as the builder, acknowledged responsibility for the road and is planning a repaving project. The company is negotiating with the homeowners’ association (HOA) of the nearby neighborhood to fund the repairs.
Deborah and Teresa emphasized the urgency of the situation.
“That’s my bigger concern, is that in a life and death situation, you’re sending EMS in there or whatever, five minutes makes a huge difference to a lot of these older folks, and to us,” they said.
WINK News will continue monitoring the situation to report on progress regarding funding and repairs.