After a fatal crash Monday night on River Road in North Port, residents and city officials are pressing the state to make the road safer for drivers.

Josh Taylor, the Public Information Officer for the City of North Port, told ABC-7 there have been nine crashes in the area of River Road and Winchester Boulevard this year alone.

This summer, the state took ownership of River Road in a responsibility swap with the county.

FDOT does have a widening project in the works, which would add lighting, sidewalks, and bike lanes. That, though, is not expected to start for another three years.