SAYS HE WAS CAUGHT BY CUBAN OFFICIALS ON THE BOAT. >> WE’RE STORE. IT’S A RACE TRACK AND THERE’S TOO MANY ACCIDENTS AND TOO MANY DEATHS. FRANK. >> BURNT STORE ROAD IN CAPE CORAL. IT’S NOTORIOUS FOR ITS DEADLY AND FREQUENT CRASHES. DRIVERS FOR MONTHS NOW BEEN URGING FOR CHANGES TO BE MADE. AND TODAY SOME SMALL CHANGES ARE HAPPENING. LEE COUNTY LEADERS ARE TAKING STEPS TO SPEED UP CHANGES ALONG BURNT STORE ROAD. SO THIS MORNING, GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER JACKI GUNTHER IS ALONG THE STRETCH AND TOWARD NORTH WEST, 21ST STREET EXPLAINING WHAT’S NEXT. REALLY COUNTY LEADERS. >> IF YOU DRIVE BURNT STORE, ROAD CHANGES MAY BE COMING SOON. THE COUNTY LEADERS ARE MOVING TO FAST TRACK SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE DANGEROUS ROAD AFTER MANY DEADLY CRASHES. WELL, IT’S PRETTY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU COME UP TO GIVE A. >> WHICH IS AT THE END OF THE THE ROAD HERE. THE ROAD NARROWS AND A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE DO NOT SEE THE SIGN WHERE THE ROAD NARROWS AND IT CAN. YOU HEAR A LOT OF BREAKS. AND THERE’S A CASE, LEANNE ACTION THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LIVE OFF BURNT STORE ROAD ARE HAPPY TO SEE. LEE COUNTY APPROVED THE PLAN TO MAKE THE ROAD SAFER. BUT SOME BELIEVE IT WON’T FULLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT SOMETHING. BUT I THINK IT’S LESS THAN A BAND-AID AT THIS POINT. THE PROJECT STRETCHES FROM VAN BUREN PARKWAY TO THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY LINE. IT WILL INCLUDE ADDING RUMBLE, STRIPS AND WIDER SHOULDERS. THIS IS JUST THE TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENT BEFORE CONSTRUCTION BEGINS TO EXPAND THE ROAD FROM 2 TO 4 LANES TO SPEED THINGS UP. >> COMMISSIONERS PLAN TO USE A CONTRACT THAT’S ALREADY IN PLACE AND WAVE A 1 MILLION DOLLAR CAP THAT WOULD OTHERWISE SLOW THINGS DOWN. THE TOTAL PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO COST JUST UNDER 5 MILLION DOLLARS. THE ONLY THING MARTY HAIR AND THINGS CAN HELP WITH SAFETY WILL HAVE TO WIDEN IT HIT HISTORY. WHY THE FINAL CONTRACT STILL HAS TO COME BACK FOR APPROVAL. BUT THIS
Lee County fast-tracks safety improvements on Burnt Store Road
Lee County officials expedite safety enhancements on Burnt Store Road following numerous fatal crashes, with plans to widen the road and add rumble strips.
Updated: 11:28 AM EDT Mar 17, 2026
Lee County leaders are moving quickly to implement safety improvements on Burnt Store Road after many deadly crashes, aiming to make the road safer with temporary measures before a major expansion project begins. Marty Herron, a Cape Coral resident, said, “You hear a lot of breaks, and there’s occasionally an accident there.”Residents are happy to see the county approve the plan to make the road safer, but some, like Herron, believe it won’t fully solve the problem. “It’s something, but I think it’s less than a Band-Aid at this point,” Herron said.He added that “more signage, a lot more signage might help to remind people it’s just a very fast piece of road.”The project, stretching from Van Buren Parkway to the Charlotte County line, will include adding rumble strips and wider shoulders. It is just a temporary safety fix before the project to widen the road from two to four lanes begins.Commissioners plan to use an existing contract and waive a $1 million cap to speed up the process. The total project is expected to cost just under $5 million. The final contract still needs approval, but this move significantly accelerates the project’s progress.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. —
Lee County leaders are moving quickly to implement safety improvements on Burnt Store Road after many deadly crashes, aiming to make the road safer with temporary measures before a major expansion project begins.
Marty Herron, a Cape Coral resident, said, “You hear a lot of breaks, and there’s occasionally an accident there.”
Residents are happy to see the county approve the plan to make the road safer, but some, like Herron, believe it won’t fully solve the problem. “It’s something, but I think it’s less than a Band-Aid at this point,” Herron said.
He added that “more signage, a lot more signage might help to remind people it’s just a very fast piece of road.”
The project, stretching from Van Buren Parkway to the Charlotte County line, will include adding rumble strips and wider shoulders. It is just a temporary safety fix before the project to widen the road from two to four lanes begins.
Commissioners plan to use an existing contract and waive a $1 million cap to speed up the process. The total project is expected to cost just under $5 million.
The final contract still needs approval, but this move significantly accelerates the project’s progress.
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.