Drivers voice concerns over speeding trucks on SR-78

Published: Updated:

ALVA, Fla.- Concerned drivers are complaining about a parade of heavy trucks traveling on State Road 78, west of Alva in Lee County.

Locals say dump, cement, and semi-trucks have used North River Road for years, as a shortcut to avoid State Road 80. The truck drivers can make better time on the small road and usually avoid the eyes of law officers.

“Chances are they’re overweight,” said Brooke Velasco. “They don’t want to get caught by the Department of Transportation.”

Velasco works at 31 Produce and drives on North River Road most days.

“A lot of them don’t even have CDLs, or they have expired CDLs, or also, their trucks are not up-to-date,” said Velasco. “It makes me angry, it irritates me.”

The trucks tend to go as fast as possible, because drivers make more money if they have more runs. WINK News tried to follow a cement truck driving along the road, we stuck to the speed limit, but the truck quickly left us far behind.

“In the 45 mph zone, they’re probably doing at least 55-60, maybe even more,” said Nancy Alderman. “There’s a lot of safety issues with them.”

Lee County cannot keep the trucks off North River Road, but it can enforce weight limits on bridges, like the one in Alva. That will start happening early next week.

“So if a big truck comes over the Alva bridge, which is sensitive and it’s elderly, and it’s above the weight restrictions there, we can arrest those people and give them tickets,” said Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann.

Florida Highway Patrol’s commercial vehicle enforcement division says fines for overweight trucks run 5 cents per pound.

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