Homeowners not deterred by ‘No’ for state-built wall

Published: Updated:

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Residents of Hampton Park at Gateway want the state to build a new 20-foot wall that will buffer noise from State Road-82, which will be expanded from two to six lanes by 2018.

Jim Brann, the board director for the Hampton Park Homeowner’s Association, has collected 225 signatures from fellow homeowners who support construction of the wall, which could cost taxpayers $7 million. He said the burm located on the edge of the neighborhood is not enough.

“Believe me, the last thing I want is taxpayer dollars being spent on things that don’t matter,” Brann said. “This matters. Florida should not only be protecting the citizens on the highway, but the citizens who live next to the highway. Our quality of life matters.”

Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jim Boxold said Hampton Park did not meet the requirements for a noise barrier wall in 2009 when the road expansion project was approved. The developers of Hampton Park had ample time to design the community according to SR-82 plans, Boxold said.

“Improving SR-82 is a top priority,” Boxold wrote in an email to Brann. “Any delays that could endanger the driving public would be unacceptable.”

Brann said he will continue to fight for the wall at a meeting with state legislators next week.

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.