Debbie Tower Quotations

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

We were not able to do the project as part of an emergency response because FEMA didn't approve it. FEMA considered it permanent repair, not emergency repairs.

We'll review the construction zone, but our project inspectors are careful that things are placed properly for safety and so drivers can navigate the new changes.

To look too far ahead may not even be realistic given that conditions can, and often do, change.

We had consultants who do design and engineering, consultants who do inspections on construction jobs.

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

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.

We recognize the importance of getting the six lanes built.

The contractor will replace light bulbs and lights on both sides of the Edison Bridge. The light bulbs had corrosion being near water and the coding on light bulbs did not hold up well.

We know that red light running creates a lot of crashes but we still look for drivers to operate cars responsibly.

We need to continue to talk about pedestrian safety. We see families out there, and they're not always looking both ways.

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 expect that drive to get better soon.

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.

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.

As loans are repaid, the opportunity to continue the program is there.

This is really a safety project because we've seen a high volume of accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists. It's clear to the department that adding the median will help improve safety.

They need six lanes to move traffic now. More lanes would certainly be needed in the future. An authority would help make that happen sooner.

This is tremendous news, but we haven't yet identified the regions where the dollars will go.

They're going to freshen the paint and allow it to be a through and right-turn lane.

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.

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.

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.

In the short term, we knew we needed six lanes, but when we look ahead to the long term, it is a very real possibility that we'll need 10 lanes.

I honestly can't give you a good reason why.

The driver was used to a certain condition. She pulled up to the intersection, and simply ignored the red light.

The drivers still should have been looking both ways. We had a fairly good feel from the community that they knew the changes were coming.