Lee County statement on bridge closures during Tropical Storm Elsa

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – As Tropical Storm Elsa nears Southwest Florida, Lee County released a statement on its plan for local bridges.

Lee County said it “cannot literally ‘close’ bridges during tropical storms or hurricanes.” Barricades, gates or signs can become hazardous and ineffective because they can easily blow away.

The Lee County Department of Transportation STRONGLY advises drivers to stay off bridges and roads leading to them when sustained winds reach 40 mph (tropical storm force). Wind gusts can already be much higher at those speeds.

Click here for more on Tropical Storm Elsa.

Law enforcement will not manually restrict bridge access, either, because if they’re injured by blowing debris, they will be unable to respond when needed after the storm.

All emergency responders also cannot respond to incidents during tropical storm-force winds.

For other local closures and cancellations, click here.

Click here to access NBC2’s Hurricane Guide.

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