FDOT plans big changes to busy Lee County intersection

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- Major changes are coming in a few years to a busy local intersection.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has big plans for the crossing at Gunnery Road and State Road 82, at the edge of Lehigh Acres.

It’s part of a $56 million project to widen State Road 82. Some of the money will turn the crossing, into what the engineers call “continu0us flow.” It’ll be the first of its kind in the state.

At certain times of the day, the intersection has 1,400 vehicles per hour, going straight through.

Another 1,300 an hour, are trying to turn left.

“It’s a very congested intersection,” said FDOT spokesman Zac Burch. “It’s a lot of conflicts, it’s a lot of red lights, and it’s a lot of traffic going through there.”

The solution? Making it a continuous flow intersection. As a digital work-up shows, those turning left would be routed into separate lanes, and would turn at the same time, as those going straight.

It’s a cheaper and less controversial alternative to an overpass, or fly-over.

FDOT says there are about 40 of these intersections in other states.

“It will eliminate some of the conflicts, it should improve about 50 to 80 percent the efficiency of the intersection, and it should improve safety because it does reduce the number of conflict points,” said Burch.

Some motorists say it might be confusing, and it’s hard to comprehend without actually seeing and driving the layout.

“Obviously they do research,” said resident Joe Legiec, “if they figure it’s a good idea, it’s probably for a reason.”

Construction is set to begin fall 2017. It could take a couple of years to complete.