Neighbors frustrated over flooding on Green Meadow Road in Lehigh

Published: Updated:
(Credit: WINK News)

Neighbors say it a driving nightmare every day with cars stuck in the mud near Lehigh Acres.

The intersection of Green Meadow Road and Sleepy Hollow Lane is just off State Road 82 in Lee County.

Both are private roads and not owned by the County.

WINK News went out to look into the claims, and we had to park at the end of the road because even we’re not sure we could make it without getting stuck, and we were not the only ones.

And now little Post-it notes are on the windows of those who parked there telling them to move their cars or be towed.

Some made it through, others aren’t so lucky. Von Deaton lives down the street from Green Meadow Road and said, “If you don’t have a four-wheel drive, you’re not getting down this.”

“I got stuck on my road so I had to be pulled out by three tractors,” said Jovita Brubaker, who needs a wheelchair to get around.

Some neighbors think the FDOT project happening off SR-82 is to blame.

A Lee County Spokeswoman said, “The flooding off of and near the SR 82 widening project is being handled by FDOT.”

But an FDOT spokesperson said in a statement, that’s not true and they have berms and drains in place to keep water from going onto this property:

SR 82 has cross drains that move the water from the south side to the north side of SR 82. Also, there is a berm that runs behind the ditches that keeps water from SR 82 from flowing onto the private property and vice versa. Between the cross drains and the existing berms, we are accommodating all of the water that is falling in the right of way.

Unfortunately, the area south of SR 82 is a low lying area that historically sees standing water and has received a tremendous amount of rain in the last 6-8 weeks.

Also, I have been told that the notes may have been placed by Century Link since they are doing some utility work in the area. These were not placed by FDOT or our contractor.

In the meantime, neighbors are taking matters into their own hands, trying to make their drive home a little easier.

A lot of frustration as you can imagine. This is a private road, so Lee County told us they wouldn’t have anything to do with it.

FDOT also pointed to the tremendous amount of rain we’ve received lately and the fact this street is in a low-lying spot.

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