MOORE HAVEN – The Glades County Commission agreed to lower the speed limit on County Road 721 (aka Reservation Road) from State Road 78 to the Glades County line to 40 mph due to the unsafe conditions of the road.

The commission will reconsider the speed limit after the roadbed is stabilized.

Commissioner Donna Storter-Long said enforcement of the new speed limit will be important.

At their Jan. 12 meeting, James Hull of Aim Engineering told commissioners Florida Department of Transportation has provided some funding for repaving CR 721, but “the road is just caving in,” he said. The roadbed is not stable, he said. It is built on muck. Water from Highlands County drains through the area. Cleaning of the drainage canals to remove aquatic plants has caused the drainage canals to become larger which amplifies the problems. Heavy cane trucks will use the road for the harvest, which has just started and will continue through May. Hull said he will request DOT to change the scope of work so they can use current funding to stabilize the roadbed instead of using the funds for repaving, but they will need more funding to solve the problem.

At that same meeting, Sheriff David Hardin said the Seminole Tribe has asked the speed limit be lowered on all of County Road 721 due to the number of accidents. He said a speed monitor device was placed on the roadway to let drivers know how fast they are going, and it was destroyed.

Seminole Tribe Police have logged speeds in the 90s, he explained.