Durnford Way Project Moving Forward

The City of Marco Island had assigned a number of tasks relative to parking issues to the Ad-Hoc Parking Solution Committee during its existence and those suggested improvements were supposed to be presented to city council back in the Fall of 2017. That report was delayed until December of 2017.

The sunsetting of the committee’s responsibilities was delayed, however most of the projects involving capital costs stayed stagnant. The Durnford Way Project would finally be approved in December of 2021 after continuing pressure by citizens and business owners in the amount of $978,657.  Those improvements to Durnford Way from Amazon Court to Saturn Court were seen as the only major construction project which was moved forward of those highlighted by the Ad-Hoc Committee on Parking.

The project involved the installation of concrete noise and privacy walls along the .22-mile project length along Durnford Way, in addition the installation of parking and storm water enhancements as well as security lighting. The entire length of that alleyway saw heavy use for deliveries to commercial operations which front on Collier Boulevard and serve as a collection point for the many restaurants in that area as well as other commercial operations.

Although the bids were received in 2021 and approved at the January 2022 meeting of council, work didn’t begin until late August of 2022 and its progress has been slow at best.

It became one of the highest priority projects from the Ad Hoc Parking Solutions Committee Final Report due to safety and security concerns. It survived the scrutiny of the council, while the project on Bald Eagle Drive and Palm Avenue were scrubbed due to cost.

That project continues to be worked on, while neighbors await the completion of the privacy and noise barrier wall along the residential side of Durnford Way. An organized parking plan is also anxiously awaited by both neighbors and those business entities.