Dangerous intersection along Pine Island Rd. to get traffic light

CAPE CORAL, Fla.- The installation of a light at the intersection of Pine Island Road and Northeast 24th Avenue has just been approved, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) said, following years of residents voicing their concerns.

On Tuesday, three people, including a child, were transported to the hospital following a vehicle versus dump truck crash at the intersection. Pine Island Road was closed for hours as crews worked to clear the roadway of the rocks that scattered after the dump truck wound up on its side.

After 70 crashes in the past six years at the intersection, FDOT approved plans to install the light based on a signal study completed on crash history and wait times.

“A light is a relief, it’s been asked for for years,” said Joe Cagnina, who lives right near the intersection.

Cagnina admits he takes a longer route to leave his home, just to avoid the intersection, and he reminds his wife every day to do the same, “I ask her to go around the block instead of making the left.”

“A lot of times, people try to merge into the intersection and multiple people try to merge into the intersection at the same time,” said Sgt. Jon Kulko with the Cape Coral Police Department.

FDOT and the City of Cape Coral are negotiating costs before they can move on to the design and construction stages.