A North Fort Myers man is raising concerns about the deteriorating condition of his cul-de-sac. Glenn Kachel, a resident of South Pacific Circle off Orange Grove Boulevard, voiced his concerns during a WINK Listens event in downtown Fort Myers.
“The whole cul-de-sac is trashed, and the road is cracking all the way up and down,” said Kachel.
Kachel, who rides his bike daily, compared the condition of his street to that of others nearby.
“There are some other ones that are done very nicely, smooth paved, you know. And the cul-de-sacs are really wide and all that. I don’t know how that got done,” he said.
WINK News visited the area to witness the state of the road firsthand. While the main part of the roadway appeared in decent condition, the cul-de-sac’s concrete was notably problematic.
“As you can see, we made this wider a few times. We put, we had them put patches in,” said Kachel. “But the problem is that they’re going to keep busting this up as they keep turning to see.”
Trash trucks turning in the narrow roadway have contributed to the crumbling pavement.
The poor condition of the road also poses challenges for elderly residents like 97-year-old George Weaver.
“As you can see, it’s a little rough, so we put bigger wheels on his walker,” said Kachel.
A spokesperson from Lee County confirmed that a request for action has been submitted for South Pacific Circle. The Department of Transportation plans to address the cul-de-sac area, but no timeline for the repaving has been established.
Kachel remains concerned about the potential for further deterioration.
“And I know that in another year or so, if this, I mean, it probably takes them almost a year to come out here and do this. That’s why I’m trying to address it now before it gets really bad. And as you can see, it will probably be next rainy season, when enough water and trucks get on here, I’m saying that it’s not going to be good,” he said.
The county spokesperson mentioned that other Lee County roads are currently a higher priority and in greater need, which is why no timeline has been set for the repaving of South Pacific Circle.