Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Eagle staff

This aerial view shows the near chasm created by road construction at the intersection of Collier Boulevard and Bald Eagle Drive as the city is in the middle of a three-year project to improve Collier Boulevard.

Story: Collier Boulevard roadwork continues (06-08-07)

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Eagle staff

On a slightly hazy day Thursday, construction work continued on Collier Boulevard, between Century Drive and Smokehouse Bay Bridge.

Story: Collier Boulevard roadwork continues (06-08-07)

The city of Marco Island is in the middle of a three-year project to improve Collier Boulevard.

The work addresses concerns many had that while under Collier County’s control, the roadway was left to crumble with the rest of the island’s infrastructure.

The first two phases of the project, which included all of South Collier Boulevard, was largely finished in 2006, though the portion between Century Drive and the Smokehouse Bay bridge is now being completed.

Work on the third phase began shortly after Easter, based on an agreement the city struck with local business owners, between the bridge and Elkcam Circle.

The fourth phase of the project was completed in December, at least a year ahead of schedule, when the section between Rose Court and the Judge S.S. Jolley Bridge was resurfaced.

As each new section of the project is done, Quality Enterprises begins by laying new utility lines under the roadway, which makes progress on the first side of the road go much slower.

This process erupted into a firestorm of controversy last year when old asbestos in water pipes were unearthed and stored on Site C, prompting allegations that Quality Enterprises illegally crushed the material. A lawsuit, and many angry words later, the process of restoring and remediating the land continues.

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