Road widening project bothers neighbors

Phillip Stearns, 75, is losing six feet of his property.

He lives on East Terry Street and isn’t happy that construction has come to his neck of the woods in Bonita Springs.

“I didn’t want it to be made with four lanes,” Stearns said.

He’s referring to the expansion of East Terry Street from two lanes to four between Imperial Street and Old U.S. 41.

The project is slated for completion in a year and a half and construction pipes on the side of the road are tall tale signs that construction is imminent.

“It’s definitely going to enlarge the capacity of our road system,” said Barbara Barnes-Buchanan, assistant city manager.

The project has been in the works since Bonita Springs became a city and it was a matter of funding that stalled the project, said Barnes-Buchanan.

Johnson Engineering, the company who will complete the project, got the okay to roar up the construction engines a few weeks ago.

“They are taking six feet of my land but what can you do,” Stearns said. “We do need (the road) but they should take the four lanes out to (I-75) not just to Imperial.”

Although Imperial Street now comes to a dead end at the Imperial River, plans are in the works to eventually cross over the river and have Livingston Road in North Naples, connect with the Imperial River off East Terry.

“It’s a great idea. It doesn’t come through my property but it will help traffic,” Pam Smith said.

She lives on East Terry Street and is looking forward to the widening but not the congestion until the project is done.

“It will help with the traffic but I don’t like to see people lose property but what are you going to do,” said Smith, 29.

Patricia Stearns, like her husband, isn’t happy about the loss of property but feels the lack of space is a traffic problem.

“It’s wonderful when it’s done but I think it’s going to pose a problem when the season visitors, especially with traffic in front of my home,” she said.

Lucky for her, Allan Street is the perfect escape route for the Stearns during season.

“We can get out that way and it will be fine but when the seasonal visitors come back, it will be a problem,” Patricia Stearns said.

Barnes-Buchanan understands the residents concern but feels the project will help with seasonal visitors and traffic.

“We are really looking forward to it, it will provide relief on U.S. 41,” she said.