A Pavered Overpass? Only In Naples!

After three years of immense bickering between the Naples City Council and the Collier County Government, the controversial ‘fly-over’ (at Golden Gate Parkway and Airport-Pulling Road) is about two months away from completion, albeit more than two months later than originally projected.

The project was forced by the county because of feared traffic congestion at the intersection of Airport Road and Golden Gate Parkway. The County theorized that because of the then eminent Golden Gate interchange to be built off 75, (it is now completed), traffic would cause major blockages at the intersection, so why not eliminate it entirely. After extensive studies it was decided that the best route to take was the ‘fly-over’, rather than a round-a-bout or any other proposed form of re-routing.

Driving by the ‘fly-over’ the other day, I noticed two things. First, they seem no where near the two month projected completion date that was recently announced. Second, I couldn’t help but notice a majority of the workers on site feverishly ‘pavering’ the sides of the project.

With regard to the beautiful pavers, or whatever you call the brick-like blocks being put there, I found myself thinking what an enormous waste of tax dollars. I’m not too sure what the price tag of doing both sides of it is, but I imagine that given the length of the ‘fly-over’, it is significant). Anywhere else in this vast country of ours, projects like this would be finished in their original cement form. I also thought that since they are already late for the original projected finish, they might want to be spending a majority of the time getting it completed, so that traffic can start to flow. Pavering the sides can be done at a later time, without obstructing traffic flow.

Only in Naples!!!