U.S. 41 widening project criticized by drivers; state says project on schedule

"I left for five months," said part-time Shadow Wood resident Dick Ogle. "When I came back I said 'this will be nice. We'll be out of the mess.' It isn't that way at all."

State officials say they've got their own concerns over how the work's going, though they say the stretch of road Ogle's asking about, from Old 41 north to Corkscrew Road, is on schedule. Ajax Paving crews have been doing some work there while they cover other jobs.

"There have not been crews there because the crew is working on I-75," Florida Department of Transportation spokesperson Debbie Tower said. "He's kind of divided his resources."

Tower said it's interesting drivers are asking about the Old 41 to Corkscrew stretch, because the agency is more concerned with the stretch between Bonita Beach Road and Old 41 in Collier County.

"That's a job we just started," Tower said. "Astaldi, Inc., has it from Bonita Beach Road north, and Better Roads has it from Bonita Beach Road south. We are strongly encouraging Better Roads to get on the job."

Astaldi was on the job within a week of the go-ahead, about six weeks ago, Tower said. Better Roads is finishing another job -- U.S. 41 between Barefoot Williams Road and 951 -- and plans to move the crew from that job.

"We've been letting them know that that's a very high priority," Tower said. "Better Roads needs to get to work on 41 through Bonita."

Ogle said he hadn't noticed problems farther south, possibly because work there hasn't begun. He said everyone noticed the work north of Old 41 wasn't done.

"They shouldn't be allowed to let the road sit there like that," he said. "Why tear it up and leave it?"

Ogle, who said he worked in commercial construction himself, has been impressed with Astaldi, which was on the job quickly and has stayed there.

"The guy doing the bridge on the river, he's on the ball," he said.

Tower said the companies doing the work are privately owned and make their own business decisions. There are job deadlines, of course, and not finishing on time can cost big.

"There has to be activity on the job and progress on the project," she said. "They are monitored and assessed. There are financial penalties if they don't get done."

Tower couldn't say what specific penalties are built into the various 41 contracts.

"But it would be enough to matter," she said.

For widening the 4-mile stretch between Old 41 and Corkscrew Ajax is getting $9.9 million. For the same work between Old 41 and Bonita Beach Road, which includes the bridge, Astaldi is getting around $18 million. Better Roads will get around $14 million for the stretch from Bonita Beach Road south to Old 41.

The work from Old 41 in Lee County north is supposed to be done by the end of 2004. The rest of the work must be done by the end of 2005.

"The contractors can do what they want as long as they're done on time," Tower said.

Ogle said maybe that's not good enough. He said changes in pavement elevation are dangerous and have been let go too long already.

"They've got weeds growing up around the sewer pipes. The road is all full of loose gravel. Barricades are everywhere," he said. "It's unbelievable the way they're handling it. I don't think just saying they're on schedule is good enough."

Contact Staff Writer Charlie Whitehead at 463-9664 or at ckwhitehead@naplesnews.com