U.S. 41 lane closures may last 2 weeks

By Banner deadline Friday morning, nearly everyone was feeling the pain stemming from Thursday's 5 p.m. gas line cut that closed U.S. 41 from Bonita Beach Road to Terry Street. And they were coping with the news that while some of the four lanes were expected to reopen by day's end, others may not be in use for up to two weeks.

The cut brought about the evacuation of at least 16 units at the Jefferson Apartments and the closure of businesses in the Riverview Corporate Center. It also gave motorists everywhere an intimate understanding of the word "gridlock."

Hundreds of children attending class from Bonita to Fort Myers were late to school Friday morning because their buses were stuck in traffic. Bonita Middle reported that only three buses out of 20 had arrived by 10 a.m., 15 minutes after classes began. It was 10:15 when the last bus rolled into the school's driveway.

School Transportation Director Lou Karnbach said all principals were notified that buses could be significantly delayed, and parents were being encouraged to drive their children to and from school so students don't miss substantial time in class. While motorists can follow detours around the blockage, buses must navigate through traffic jams while still picking up children in affected neighborhoods.

"We're looking at ways to get around it, but there may be some of those streets we cannot get a big bus through," Karnbach said.

Delia Everett, who works for Source Interlink in the Riverview Corporate Center, said the company's 200 employees were aware of the building's closure and nearby traffic problems through constant telephone contact. Her husband, Jim, also is office services manager there and handles security-type issues for the company. The couple's phone was ringing non-stop Friday morning with employees anxious to get back into their offices before the weekend.

"A lot of people have a lot of work to do," said Everett, assistant to CEO Leslie Flegel. "But he (Flegel) said safety comes first."

Deputies knocked on Bib English's door at about 9:45 a.m. Friday. That was how the Jefferson Apartments resident learned of the gas leak a few hundred yards from her apartment. The police told her she didn't have to evacuate but should.

"I don't know how bad the situation is," English said. "You see, I'm in a wheelchair, so I don't get around so fast. I don't know what to do."

The retiree said she planned to call some friends to ask if they would pick her up, adding, ""I'm just playing it by ear. I'm not getting all panicky."

By 10 a.m. Friday, American Red Cross workers has served 200 meals to evacuees, road workers and emergency crews. Vouchers for food and hotel stays were being passed out to evacuees.

The Bonita area was wrecked with traffic jams Thursday night. Torpid vehicles clogged U.S. 41 for miles. The main north-south alternative, Old 41, was quickly inundated.

It took Phil Juaire and his family an hour and a half to drive from his Pelican Landing home to Doc's Beach House on Bonita Beach, a 5-mile trip that typically takes 10 minutes.

"We thought it was a (car) accident," Juaire said, referring to the backed-up traffic on U.S. 41. Instead, he wagered his luck on Old 41, where he found "quite a bit of jousting going on there."

The acrid stench of leaking gas hit his nostrils when he finally reached the intersection of Bonita Beach Road and U.S. 41.

"It wasn't faint," said Juaire, 71. "It was awfully strong to be covering a whole neighborhood."

Staff Writer Karie Partington contributed to this story