Residents hope there is a solution for the traffic onto Fort Myers Beach

Writer: Matthew Seaver
Published: Updated:
Fort Myers Beach traffic. (Credit: WINK News)

Residents trying to return to Fort Myers Beach are having to wait in long lines of traffic to get back to their homes. It is the result of there being only one way on and off of the island.

“It just sucks,” said Bob Anderson, who is upset about the traffic.

WINK News has been hearing the complaints, so reporter Michael Hudak tried driving to the beach to find out just how bad the traffic is.

The journey began at 10 a.m., and it took the WINK News team a little more than two hours to get to the bridge.

Waiting to get on the beach was nothing compared to how long it will take to see Fort Myers Beach return to normal.

People like Anderson, who owns a business and a home on Fort Myers Beach, want the traffic to be fixed, so it takes less time for the island to rebuild.

“The first few days, it wasn’t that bad, but now it’s gotten progressively, incredibly worse,” said Anderson.

Anderson says that the southern access to the island through Bonita Springs needs to be repaired faster.

“This entry is just insane. We haven’t heard a word about what they’re doing with the southern bridges. Man, how much would that alleviate some of the traffic problems? I know you did some traffic I think I saw you yesterday. About traffic coming in from the southern end,” said Anderson.

Anderson was so fed up that he turned around halfway through the journey.

“As a resident and business owner, it’s extremely frustrating. So we turned around, and we said, ‘hey, we got things we need to do personally off the island anyways, so let’s do it now,” said Anderson.

WINK News has reached out to the city, the county, and the Department of Transportation but has not received an answer on when the traffic will improve.

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