Latest Blogs

Two to three times a week automobile, truck and motorcycle accidents happen at the intersection of SR-82 and Sunshine Boulevard in Lehigh Acres, FL. So many accidents, that drivers are questioning the safety of the road.

SR-82 is locally known as Immokalee Road and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.  It is a 29-mile road running east-west which serves Lee County, Collier County and a small southwest corner of Hendry County. The road was originally a small, two-lane, country road, and remains so in many areas today.

With traffic on SR-82 often traveling up to 60 mph, its intersection with Sunshine Boulevard with no blinking or traffic light becomes the scene of many crashes involving injury and deaths.  

FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) has a number of projects in the design phase to widen SR-82.  One of these projects, State Road 82 Design from Shawnee Road to Alabama Road (Project ID 42581-2) will affect the intersection with Sunshine Boulevard.  Ray Porter, FDOT Project Manager, said that they expected the actual road construction project to start in 2020 with an estimated finish date of 2022, which is nine years from now. According to Mr. Porter, there are environmental hurdles, permits, and "muck" problems.  The "muck" problem alone will require huge piles of dirt to be in place for 9 to 10 months before road construction can begin. FDOT is asking for public input during the design phase. They urge the public to get involved early when there is more of an opportunity to incorporate changes which the public may request. SR-82 Project Contact

"Consistent with the growth of Southwest Florida, between now and the completion of the SR-82 project, the number of vehicles using SR-82 will increase. This increase in traffic and the fact that there are no traffic lights at the intersection of Sunshine Boulevard and SR-82, will make this intersection even more dangerous," said Attorney Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics show that drivers on rural roads (2-lane) die at a rate 2.5 times higher per mile traveled than on urban highways even though urban drivers travel twice as many miles.

What safety measures can drivers take when travelling on these roads?

• When entering an "uncontrolled" intersection (intersection with no signs or traffic lights), do so with caution.  Always expect a vehicle will be coming.
• Drive without distractions, i.e. texting, cell phones.
• Look both ways and be ready to brake or stop.
• Drive at the slowest speed just before entering the intersection.
• Be aware of vehicles behind you.  Will they be able to stop if necessary?
• Florida law says who must yield (give up) the right-of-way.  Every vehicle operator and pedestrian is to do everything possible to avoid a crash.

Lee County Personal Injury Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%)  percent 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 the 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 239.793.7748.