Debbie Tower Quotations

About a week and a half ago, we placed a stop sign at the edge of the pavement and in fact put a red light on the stop sign to draw attention to it. It's a tragic, tragic reminder that drivers really need to remember driving should never be routine. Wear your safety belt every time and expect unexpected.

The pedestrian fatalities were spread along Palm Beach Boulevard. They weren't concentrated in one area, which is why this project is important.

That is being done as a design-build project, which speeds up the process. It will be completed in three years and paid for over five years.

With increasing development along US 41, it means more cars and just more vehicles on the roadway. Florida DOT recognizes the need to have six lanes on US 41 and Lee County clearly recognizes the need as well.

We have evaluated possible pond sites for the project, and this particular parcel is the most viable, from a drainage standpoint and a fiscal perspective.

We recognize the importance of getting the six lanes built.

Our estimate of $25 million for the project is one we are fairly comfortable with. We can't enter into an agreement for anything other than what we have programmed for construction in fiscal year 2011. So that's what we would enter into with the county.

Frankly if it saves one life, it's worth it.

Any time we're installing highway lighting it's either because there is a specific situation at hand or it's been raised by a priority through our work program process. Highway lighting is always intended to assist pedestrians and bicyclists at intersections. It will also help enhance roadway travel.

We did take a close, careful look at the data. A signal cannot be approved at this time. Side street volume isn't just there yet.