Lee: CR 951 extension will have limited access

Lee County commissioners made their intentions clear today with regard to access to the proposed extension of County Road 951.

Commissioners passed a resolution indicating that they plan to make the road a limited-access facility, meaning it should contain fewer interchanges, driveways and other access points.

"I'm concerned about how much is open to access," said Commissioner Ray Judah.

During the design of CR 951, which would travel from the road's current ending at Immokalee Road in Collier County to Alico Road in Lee County, planners will incorporate access points at major intersections. County commissioners will vote on the designs. At that time, commissioners will also decide whether to follow their intentions and make the road a limited-access facility.

The designation means that anyone who wants access to the road will have to get approval form the Lee County Commission.

Approval will take what is called a supermajority vote, which means four out of five board members must agree, rather than a simple majority.

The resolution commissioners approved states the board will only approve additional access points if the public's interest will be served.

The designation is important because if there are multiple access points, the road will cease to function as a viable alternative to Interstate 75, Judah said.