Matlacha traffic impacting travel in SWFL

First, people couldn’t get to Matlacha after Hurricane Ian, but since a bridge got fixed, you can’t seem to keep them off.

It’s been about a month since linemen got to work fixing power poles on Pine Island Road and making their way down Matlacha.

And sometimes the traffic there is so backed up it sometimes goes into Cape Coral.

Those trying to leave the island will hit traffic basically at the town center.

There are plenty of people you can see frustrated on the road, making u-turns and doubling back the way they came.

But, most realize it’s what you must deal with post-hurricane to get on and off the island.

The good news, LCEC told WINK News that all the power poles should be fixed by Friday night, and the traffic will be in the rearview mirror.

Most people, including Cape Coral resident Tomy Amaro, wouldn’t consider it enjoyable to sit in their car, barely moving for over an hour in traffic.

“I was in line for 20 minutes, and I was like yeah, I ain’t doing this about halfway back there. Made a u-turn and went and got food. I thought I was in the clear until I got here,” Amaro said.

It wasn’t like that before; that’s because linemen have been repairing poles one by one.

And to do that, they have to close down a lane and let one side go while the other waits, and that cycle repeats.

Lately you have to add about an hour to your commute to get off and on the island.

But, if LCEC can get everything done as scheduled, the traffic shouldn’t be as bad starting Saturday.