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Steel Gates Installed Between Southwest Ranches and Pembroke Pines

Officials have the three gates are being put up to stop cut-through traffic from a commercial area in Pines

Saturday, Jul 28, 2012 | Updated 12:57 PM EDT

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Three steel gates are being installed along roads in Southwest Ranches to keep out traffic from Pembroke Pines, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Doug McKay, vice mayor of Southwest Ranches, has said the three gates are being put up to stop cut-through traffic from a commercial area in Pines that has long plagued the Broward town.

McKay has said there have been a variety of issues with the cut-through traffic, including large trucks taking down wires across the roads, not to mention complaints from residents.

Southwest Ranches Erecting Barricades on Pembroke Pines Border

But some residents are upset.

"These were perfectly usable two-lane roads, and now they're a disaster. I hate it!" resident Mike Hanley was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

First responders will be allowed through the gates, but at least one Pembroke Pines official worries about response times.

"It didn't occur to them that by putting up these barriers they'd be slowing down ambulances and fire trucks," said Angelo Castillo, a Pembroke Pines commissioner.

Gates had been put up temporarily in 2005.

The cost of the gates is $80,000. They are on Southwest 199th Avenue, 202th Avenue and 205th Avenue.

"It looks like we're living in Berlin. We are living in the United States of America, and we don't need walls," said Pembroke Pines resident Jose Roca.

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