Cape Coral residents warn of ongoing danger at crash-prone intersection

Residents living near the intersection of Pondella Road and Northeast 25th Avenue say traffic crashes happen so frequently that many have lost count, blaming excessive speed and the lack of traffic signals for what they describe as a daily danger.Neighbors say the intersection has become a crash hotspot, with collisions occurring often enough that some residents routinely call 911.“It happens all the time,” said John Maclean, a Cape Coral resident who witnessed a crash at the intersection earlier this week. He said multiple ambulances responded to the scene, underscoring the severity of the incident.Maclean said speeding, heavy traffic and the absence of stoplights have long contributed to the problem.“That’s where we have the problems,” he said.Another resident, Colleen Hanson Bowles, president of the Royal Hawaiian Club Condominium Board, said she can often hear crashes from her home and is usually the one calling emergency services.“One crash is bad,” Bowles said. “But when you can hear them consistently, it’s unnecessary.”Cape Coral confirmed that a traffic signal for the intersection has been approved, but design work has not been finalized and funding is not expected until 2027.Bowles said the delay is troubling, given the volume of traffic in the area.“It’s one of the largest areas of traffic that has no stoppage,” she said. “It needs to happen.”Residents say waiting for improvements could put lives at risk, but are happy that changes are coming. “A lot of lives could be lost between now and ’27, in my opinion,” Maclean said.Gulf Coast News reached out to both Lee County and the City of Cape Coral for clarification on plans for the intersection.In a statement, Lee County Department of Transportation officials said the county and city have discussed the intersection for several years. Pondella Road is maintained by Lee County, while Northeast 25th Avenue and Hancock Creek South Boulevard are city-maintained roads. Under county policy, the side street owner is responsible for signalization analysis and costs.Lee County DOT said it agreed to conduct a signal warrant analysis, which was completed in 2023 and found the intersection meets the criteria for a traffic signal. The county authorized the city to move forward with signalization and has continued monitoring crash data at the location.According to Lee County DOT, a recent review showed a reduction in crashes that could be corrected through signalization compared to earlier data. The county said its current position is to consider installing quick curbing to restrict left turns or through movements from side streets if a safety issue arises while the city designs and constructs a traffic signal.The City of Cape Coral confirmed that a traffic signal has been approved for construction at the intersection and is proposed for funding in fiscal year 2027. City officials said design work has not yet begun, and a project cost estimate is not yet available.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

Residents living near the intersection of Pondella Road and Northeast 25th Avenue say traffic crashes happen so frequently that many have lost count, blaming excessive speed and the lack of traffic signals for what they describe as a daily danger.

Neighbors say the intersection has become a crash hotspot, with collisions occurring often enough that some residents routinely call 911.

“It happens all the time,” said John Maclean, a Cape Coral resident who witnessed a crash at the intersection earlier this week. He said multiple ambulances responded to the scene, underscoring the severity of the incident.

Maclean said speeding, heavy traffic and the absence of stoplights have long contributed to the problem.

“That’s where we have the problems,” he said.

Another resident, Colleen Hanson Bowles, president of the Royal Hawaiian Club Condominium Board, said she can often hear crashes from her home and is usually the one calling emergency services.

“One crash is bad,” Bowles said. “But when you can hear them consistently, it’s unnecessary.”

Cape Coral confirmed that a traffic signal for the intersection has been approved, but design work has not been finalized and funding is not expected until 2027.

Bowles said the delay is troubling, given the volume of traffic in the area.

“It’s one of the largest areas of traffic that has no stoppage,” she said. “It needs to happen.”

Residents say waiting for improvements could put lives at risk, but are happy that changes are coming.

“A lot of lives could be lost between now and ’27, in my opinion,” Maclean said.

Gulf Coast News reached out to both Lee County and the City of Cape Coral for clarification on plans for the intersection.

In a statement, Lee County Department of Transportation officials said the county and city have discussed the intersection for several years. Pondella Road is maintained by Lee County, while Northeast 25th Avenue and Hancock Creek South Boulevard are city-maintained roads. Under county policy, the side street owner is responsible for signalization analysis and costs.

Lee County DOT said it agreed to conduct a signal warrant analysis, which was completed in 2023 and found the intersection meets the criteria for a traffic signal. The county authorized the city to move forward with signalization and has continued monitoring crash data at the location.

According to Lee County DOT, a recent review showed a reduction in crashes that could be corrected through signalization compared to earlier data. The county said its current position is to consider installing quick curbing to restrict left turns or through movements from side streets if a safety issue arises while the city designs and constructs a traffic signal.

The City of Cape Coral confirmed that a traffic signal has been approved for construction at the intersection and is proposed for funding in fiscal year 2027. City officials said design work has not yet begun, and a project cost estimate is not yet available.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.