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The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) broke ground in Fort Myers earlier this year on a $52.7 million diverging diamond interchange at Colonial Boulevard and I-72. The project includes widening the highway and adding an auxiliary lane in each direction from Colonial Boulevard to MLK Boulevard. Emergency stopping sites are also being added at each exit. Wink News reported on August 23, 2021, that the project has begun.

The FDOT commented on the project to ABC News, “For the month of August through probably the middle of September, crews are working on the median on the west side of I-75. It includes a diverging diamond, which will be right at the interchange. All of these innovative traffic patterns are created to improve flow and to make it easier to navigate through the interchange, which at this time it’s very congested,” said Marlena Gore with the FDOT.

There are other improvements along Colonial Boulevard that include a continuous-flow intersection at Six Mile Cypress Parkway and Ortiz. The completion of this project is expected in the summer of 2023.

Road construction areas have a high risk for potential crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that the number of construction zone injuries and fatalities is predicted to climb as increased funding for road construction is leading to a significant increase in road construction projects.

In February 2021, a Naples police officer tragically died in an accident on Corkscrew Road in Estero, Florida. The officer swerved to avoid a car that had slowed down because of the Corkscrew Road construction. Authorities reported he crossed the center line and crashed into a truck.

The American Driver & Traffic Safety Education Association (ADTSEA) suggests drivers abide by the following safety tips when driving in work zones:

• Watch the traffic around you and be prepared to react by reducing your speed, obeying signs and flaggers, and increasing your following distance.
• Do not become oblivious to work zone signs when the work is long-term or widespread and be aware that traffic patterns in work zones can change daily including lane shifts or alternating lane closures.
• If traffic is light and speeds are still relatively high, merge early. If congestion increases, traffic slows down and gaps between cars close up, merge late and use the “zipper” method.
• Use extreme caution when driving through a work zone at night whether workers are present or not.
• Adjust your lane position away from the side where workers and equipment are located when possible.
• Some work zones are mobile and moving, such as when line painting, road patching, or mowing are occurring. Just because you do not see the workers immediately after you see the warning sign does not mean they are not out there. Observe the posted signs until you see the one that says “End Road Work.”
• Expect delays, plan for them and leave early to reach your destination on time.
• When you can, avoid work zones altogether by using alternate routes.

"Should you or a loved one be injured because of the negligence of another, after seeking medical assistance, please contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. Our experienced Fort Myers accident legal team is available 24/7 to assist you, and there are no costs or attorney fees until we receive a monetary recovery for you," said Fort Myers Personal Injury Lawyer Randall Spivey.

Fort Myers Personal Injury Lawyer Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one percent (1%) of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com. Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County at 239.793.7748.