Construction on Highway 41 in Bonita Springs

The date was Sept. 16^th, 2002 when “Bob” arrived with barricades to re-route traffic along Hwy. 41.  Residents hailed this as a joyous occasion and expected that in nine months, they would have traffic flowing along Hwy. 41 on a wider, safer roadway.  Could anyone have guessed that the Department of Transportation (DOT) would give contractors four (4) years to complete a project that road engineer’s estimate should take nine (9) months.  Why should anyone question DOT’s competence or think they would not negotiate the most efficient way to widen our roads?

After four years of traffic delays, lost business, bumpy detours and countless traffic accidents (including fatalities); it is now obvious to every citizen of Bonita Springs that something is seriously wrong at the Department of Transportation.

We learned that DOT initially offered contractors two (2) years to complete these three miles of road widening.  This seems a bit excessive when you consider we built the Alcan Highway; 1522 miles of road through uncharted swamp, over rugged mountains, with  sub zero temperatures in less than nine months!

We note that DOT granted contractors several extensions.  For example:  A two-month extension when the contractor ruptured a gas main that took three days to repair.  This and other extensions indicate we are now looking at the end of 2006 for completion.  Seems reasonable to us that professional road builders should anticipate delays and build them into their scheduling process.  One DOT employee told us, “Well, you know those contractors.  They just keep asking for more time.”  Well, to quote a former first lady, “Just say no!”

So what’s the reason this project is taking so long?  It’s obvious to thousands of motorists and painfully obvious to those who have been injured or died on this treacherous roadway,

 “There is no one working out there most of the time!

Why can’t DOT officials demand that contractors give full attention to one project at a time and get it completed as quickly as possible, thereby minimize the risk to the driving public?

Mr. Abreu, head of the DOT in Florida offered politically correct excuses like, “there have been mistakes in the past, but let’s move forward from here!”  We want to know what is wrong and who is going to fix it!” Citizens of Florida will be anxious to eliminate the .18 cent gas tax we pay to the Federal Government and keep the whole .51 cents here in Florida, but we need to know it will be spent efficiently.

We found it puzzling that contractors were offered 720 days to complete the work, but were required  to begin work within sixteen days of the contract issue.  May we offer a suggestion?  Give the contractor the 720 day window to do the work, but allow the contractor to set his own start date, providing the work be completed within 180 days of his start date.  This would give the contractors the necessary scheduling flexibility and the roads would be torn up for the least amount of time.  We could also envision clauses in the contract that would penalize contractors for non-performance and encourage contractors to work in the off-season. Please note, we have not even mentioned cost over-runs!

The Florida Department of Transportation should explain to the citizens of Bonita Springs what will be different when you negotiate the next road contract in our area.

On The Road in Canada

Vacationing in the Maritime Provinces of Canada last summer, we crossed to Prince Edward Island; smallest of the Maritimes where the Confederation of Canada was formed.

The Confederation Bridge crosses 13 kilometers of the Northumberland Straits where the North Atlantic freezes in the winter and the nearby Bay of Fundy tides can reach forty feet. I noted the bridge was completed in less than four years; about the same time it took  the Florida Department of Transportation to complete just three miles of widening on Hwy 41.  Perhaps when our Canadian friends come down to visit this winter we can get a few tips on road building.

 The eight mile long bridge was designed, financed and built by a private company not by the government. Perhaps this is one reason for the high degree of efficiency. Common Sense Government would suggest that if the Florida Department of Transportation were converted to a private company we would have a much higher degree of efficiency, roads would cost less, be completed quicker and we citizens would have far less grief and aggravation.