FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — Leaving her neighborhood has become a safety concern for a Fort Myers woman living along Daniels Parkway.
Cheryl Elliott has lived in Daniels Park for six years, and what used to be a simple left turn onto Daniels Parkway has become a daily challenge. Between heavy traffic and ongoing construction, she says drivers are taking chances just to get across the road.
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“We can’t get out of our neighborhood,” Elliott said.
Elliott says drivers are forced to navigate dangerous conditions just to exit their community.
“Sometimes people will slow down and they’ll like say, oh, okay, go ahead. The first lane, the second lane. You get to the third lane. I’ve had it happen to me, and I’ve seen it happen. People go, and you can’t see around like construction trucks, especially if you’re in a small vehicle. And it’s like slam on the brakes. You almost get hit,” Elliott said.
With talk of more development nearby, Elliott fears more cars could mean more close calls. She’s asking for a solution.
“Can they put up a block the box so that when traffic slows down, the cars leave that area open so that you know people coming out of the road there can actually get across,” Elliott said.
WINK News took Elliott’s concerns to Lee County. The county says significant changes are already underway along Daniels Parkway.
Crews are nearing completion of a project to widen Daniels to eight lanes, and FDOT is working on improvements to the I-75 interchange. The county says together those projects should help reduce the number of cars backing up near Elliott’s neighborhood.
For Elliott, it’s about more than traffic. It’s about peace of mind every time she gets behind the wheel.
The county did not specifically say whether a “don’t block the box” marking is being considered at this intersection. While officials believe these road projects will help with congestion, WINK News will continue following up to see whether any additional safety measures are planned.