Road work projects rarely make headlines, but the site of one overpass project in Lee County, Florida has been getting a lot of media attention in recent months. Asbestos, a known carcinogen, was discovered on the site of the Summerlin overpass in late 2009. Multiple tests were conducted at the site to help local officials comprehend the scope of the asbestos contamination at the site, as well as to help figure out who should shoulder the blame for placing the material on the site.

Now, an asbestos consultant hired by project contractor Posen Construction has stated that the best course of action is to remove the large chunks of asbestos-containing material from the site, as well as checking all fill dirt/material at the site for asbestos.

Because asbestos exposure is conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, there are many state and federal laws in place which govern the handling, removal, and proper disposal of the carcinogenic material. According to federal organizations such as the US EPA, there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, although small amounts of the material are legally allowed at some sites. For example, in Lee County, the asbestos present at the Summerlin site must be less than 260 linear feet.

If asbestos levels exceed that limit, fines can be levied. Mesothelioma typically lies dormant for up to fifty years before an individual begins to suffer from mesothelioma symptoms, and the majority of patients lose their battle with this cancer in less than two years.

The report, which was delayed for two weeks, recommends that “all fill dirt should be filtered for asbestos, which should then be destroyed at an approved dump site,” according to local sources. A second asbestos report has also been commissioned, and will be released soon.

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