Dump trucks dangerously continue cutting through Cape Coral neighborhood

Reporter: Zach Oliveri Writer: Paul Dolan
Published: Updated:

In March of 2022, WINK News talked about dump trucks cutting through local neighborhoods with narrow roads, and in 2023, dump trucks are still a problem in a North West Cape Coral neighborhood.

The community filed complaints and even went to the mayor’s office to try and change it.

Neighbors on Northwest 29th Terrace in Cape Coral see and hear dump trucks barreling through their neighborhood as a shortcut from Burnt Store Road to El Dorado Parkway all day long.

Dump trucks driving in Cape Coral. CREDIT: WINK News

Cape Coral resident, Scott Myelle, fears the worst could happen.

“It’s only a matter of time before something happens with one of these trucks hitting a bike or a kid. Then it would be a much bigger deal,” Myelle said.

Myelle moved to Cape Coral from New Hampshire in April, so peace and quiet are normal to him.

“It’s kind of a slap in the face when we decided not to move somewhere in town and come to the north side of the cape to get away from the traffic. Only to have traffic as the number one issue on our street,” Myelle said.

WINK News met Ed Hawkins when we first reported on this occurring in March, who feared for the families on the street.

“They saw that Wink News they’re either going slow or they’re using the other route,” Hawkins said.

Dump trucks seen cutting through Cape Coral neighborhoods. CREDIT: WINK News

Neighbors want the city to do something, beginning with a ‘No thru’ sign which was up in 2017.

“They just speed up and down. They’re noisy, and it’s all about them getting to wherever it is they need to go. And I really think an enforced no thru traffic sign would solve the problem,” Cape Coral resident Michael Riherd said.

WINK News also reached out to Cape Coral police, and a spokesperson said a sign would warn viewers not to cut through the neighborhood but wouldn’t restrict dump truck drivers from using the road unless they are a documented safety hazard due to a structural or geometric deficiency such as maximum weight limit, narrow lanes, etc. The areas throughout Cape Coral have adequate infrastructure to serve all vehicle classifications, so signage prohibiting any vehicles cannot be posted.

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