Bonita Springs traffic controversy

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BONITA SPRINGS, Fla.- A controversial intersection was the topic of discussion Thursday night.

The Bonita Springs mayor is frustrated, saying there’s no money or plans to improve Bonita Beach Road and US 41.

“I don’t like it at all. It is always congested,” said one driver.

More than 100,000 cars travel through the intersection of US 41 and Bonita Beach Road every day.

“It is about the worst it has been in a few years,” said driver Wayne Baraclough.

“Right now when there is an emergency, how do they get through the intersection,” said Bonita Springs mayor Ben Nelson.

Mayor Nelson says there’s no money in the budget for improving the intersection that’s only getting worse.
Nelson also says the city doesn’t even have a plan.

“If we were planning on future infrastructure I would be okay, I would be fine. At least we are looking forward, we are not. We are not looking at all,” said Nelson.

This intersection was at the center of a heated controversy last year. FDOT started a million dollar study looking at possible changes to relieve traffic.

But once fear spread of a possible flyover, the Bonita council recommended to stop the study, which is exactly what happened.

“It seemed like the end result was going to be a flyover at that location,” said councilman Mike Gibson.

Gibson says a flyover would be very bad for the area and also doesn’t like the thought of adding more lanes.

“Possibly better bus system, just different ways to get people down to the beach,” said Gibson.

WINK News also spoke with driver Cameron Hord who says traffic really isn’t that bad.

“It is our tax money so if they don’t need to spend it. In my opinion I don’t think they need to,” said Hord.

Mayor Nelson strongly disagrees.

“We are planning for the future and for future generations real. I think that is our responsibility and if we shirk that responsibility shame on us,” said Nelson.

Bonita Springs is spending $300,000 on a new study for Bonita Beach Road, however it is an aesthetics study and will not come up with ways on how to alleviate traffic.

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