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After 5 years and $86.6 million, Immokalee Road expansion opens
ED MATTHEWS
Although the project is complete, construction will continue on the section near Interstate 75 pending the completion of renovations to the interstate being made by the Florida Department of Transportation. Friday's ribbon-cutting officially marked the end of the five-year Immokalee Road project, which widened the road from two to six lanes.
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They didn’t exactly do it in the road.
You try stretching a ribbon across six lanes of traffic.
But Collier County officials and commissioners were all smiles as they snipped a ribbon in half at the side of Immokalee Road Friday, with traffic whizzing by in the background.
Workers are still putting finishing touches on landscaping and turn lanes at the I-75 interchange, and a reconstruction of the interstate overpass will disrupt the road for another few months, but Collier officials held a ceremony Friday to celebrate the completion of 15 miles of road expansion that took five years.
“Obviously, we’ve been here a little while,” said Deputy County Manager Leo Ochs. “We’re very pleased that we now have an east-west corridor servicing the northern portion of the county.”
Also in attendance were members of the community, Collier County commissioners, Transportation Administrator Norm Feder, State Representative Matt Hudson and Transportation Engineering Director Jay Ahmad.
Many acknowledged the difficult transition caused by five years of construction, but praised the county for its foresight in expanding the road to aid with commute times, emergency response and evacuation efforts.
“The reason why it meant so much to me is that it’s been an issue for 15 years,” Commissioner Jim Coletta said. “We called it ‘the road of death’ because there were so many accidents along that highway.”
Coletta is one of three commissioners whose districts are served directly by Immokalee Road, including Tom Henning and Frank Halas.
“We are retired and we drive it back and forth to the store,” said Perla Angulo, who has lived in Golden Gate Estates with her husband, Eugenio, for 11 years.
“It’s much better now,” she said, smiling toward the roadway.
She was one of hundreds of residents who called Coletta to complain about the state of the road before its expansion, joining a task force Coletta said he regularly consulted for input on road projects.
“This is tremendous what’s taken place,” said Halas during the ceremony. “The way that this highway came about was the residents spoke out... The citizens told us they wanted the growth to pay for roads, and that’s what happened.”
While the $86.6 million project was the focus of Friday’s ceremony, the show was nearly stolen. Montessori Academy of Naples students, ranging in age from 12 years to 18 months, sang a few songs for the crowd of about 40.
But they were careful to keep attention where it belonged, singing a special rendition of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”:
“Twinkle, twinkle, traffic light, on the corner shining bright.”
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Funny how the contractor had the median grass cut and the road curbs cleaned just around the school where the ribbon back patting ceremony was held. Meanwhile, the median from 951 to the East is very unsightly with grass 2.5 feet tall and weeds growing in cracks.
#1 Posted by swflsucks on July 18, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
At least the contractor is trying to correct the peeling paint poles...but there's plenty of those poles he missed.
#2 Posted by beetlejuice on July 18, 2008 at 10:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
we hated Astaldi when they were givin the contract u people remember U.S. 41 in Bonita? such self absorbed and shallow minded people i think u all should go back to where u came from and moan in your own town.... Naples use to be nice...use to be.... now Naples SUCKS
#3 Posted by thethrob on July 19, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I like the way the road contractors get involved in local politics. Like today on 951 at the Blvd where Better Roads has one of their bulldozers parked on County property with a giant "VOTE FOR COLETTA" sign on it. Interesting that they care so much about who gets elected. Or is that pay back for getting the contract to redo 951?
#4 Posted by naplesdad on July 19, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
After 5 years and 36.6 million dollars, Immokalee expansion opens. The key word is "open", not finish. It could be another year or so before it complete. Mr Halas said "This is tremendous What's take place". He was right "tremendous screw up by the local officials".
Remember Golden Gate Bridge, Only took $35 million and a little over 4 years to finish. And finish ahead of schedule and under the budget. Now, that is tremendous Mr Halas.
#5 Posted by naplesnative73 on July 19, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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