Lee County to install crosswalks at busy Matlacha road

MATLACHA, Fla.- Lee County is planning to spend $65,000 to protect pedestrians and bicyclists in a popular visitor spot.

The county is putting in three crosswalks with flashing lights, to help people get across the main road in Matlacha. That’s the “old Florida” village at the entrance to Pine Island.

One of the crosswalks will be located east of the drawbridge. It will feature a push button system so you hit the button and beacons will flash, so that drivers stop to let you cross the road.

Matlacha has some marked crosswalks now, but in the peak visitor season, many people just cross the road, darting in between two lanes of vehicles.

Lee County has been working with the local civic association to draw plans for the crosswalks. Two will be located west of the bridge, in the area of art shops and galleries.

“We told the folks on the tails of the bridge project that we’d be out there and take a good look at how we could safe up the traffic,” said Randy Cerchie, with the Lee County Department of Transportation.

Some people believe the flashing lights will catch drivers’ eyes, and help pedestrians.

“A life is worth a lot more than $65,000 dollars,” said Marty Larman.

Others are not so sure that even nicely-marked crosswalks will tempt jay-walking visitors and locals.

Work on the crosswalks begins later this week and should last about a month.