Collier County discussing plan to widen parts of Collier Boulevard

A busy stretch of road in Collier County is set to get bigger. The county is ready to widen Collier Boulevard from Green Boulevard to City Gate Boulevard North from four to six lanes.

People who live and travel through the area say traffic is a problem. The county says the population is growing, and it needs to continue efforts to improve traffic flow.

“The traffic here in the morning is absolutely brutal. From here all the way to Marco. Landscaping trucks, everything. People going to work in Marco, it’s really congested and should be done,” said John Johnson, a local business owner.

Johnson’s family business is located near Green Boulevard and Collier Boulevard. That is the endpoint of the county’s widening project plan that starts at City Gate Boulevard North. The proposed plan is to convert the four lanes to six within the project limits.

“It’s definitely needed,” said Jamie Mueller, who lives in the area.

Mueller says easing traffic congestion may help stop drivers from seeking alternate routes. “This gets backed up, and they take a lot of detours through the residential neighborhoods, and they speed just to cut out that whole intersection,” said Mueller.

Some people are worried about the impacts construction may have on the businesses in the area, but the plan is only in an early design stage. The county’s transportation team says this is the final project in a series of five projects designed to improve 15 miles of Collier Boulevard.

“There just has to be plans over the years as more population comes in, we need more infrastructure. Of course, more roadways,” said Connie Deane, community liaison for the Transportation Management Services Department.

The community is encouraged to take part in a public meeting about the plans to widen the roadway. If you would like to attend, the meeting is on Wednesday, April 6, at 5:00 p.m. at the Golden Gate Community Center Auditorium.