Charlotte County residents suffer with traffic congestion

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – A new project is causing major problems for some Charlotte County residents.

A main road connecting Port Charlotte to Englewood is planned to be closed for the next two years. Now, neighbors say the project is way behind schedule.

Crews are scheduled to update bridges, add roundabouts and widen roads, but some neighbors aren’t thrilled with the progress.

“I think they’re just dragging their feet on it, they’re going to do it eventually they have to, but it’s going awful slow,” said Richard Carroll, an Edgewater Drive resident.

Construction material has taken over neighbors yards. Many of the homes are owned by snowbirds, but full-time residents are getting fed up.

Since July, Edgewater Drive has soaked up almost two feet of rain. The county says that’s been holding up road work. Also, traffic is coming a nightmare. Two miles of Edgewater drive is shut down and traffic is rerouted to U.S. 41.

“You have to go all the way up to 41 and go out and if you don’t know the area, you’re never going to get to that side,” said Carroll.

The county says they are doing the best they can to move the project along. It is scheduled to be completed by February 2017.