Written by guest author Brandi Freeman, FGCU Traffic congestion during school drop-off and pick-up times is a familiar...
FGCU Written Articles
Estero vs. the Dangers of Habitat Fragmentation
Introduction: Estero is home to many conservation parks that serve to protect wildlife habitats, including marine...
Myth vs. Fact: Navigating Environmental Claims in Our Community
Written by guest author Brandi Freeman, FGCUConversations about growth, development, wildlife, flooding, and water...
Signal Timing vs Road Widening at East Corkscrew Road
Signal Timing vs Road Widening at East Corkscrew Road Introduction In recent years, East Corkscrew Road has become a major commuter conduit due to housing development, easy access to Interstate 75, and a lack of alternative east-west roads. The once quiet, local...
Complete Streets
East Corkscrew Road became a busy corridor because of the fast-housing growth and road expansion, but the downside to this has been that there is more traffic and unsafe conditions for the people walking and biking. East Corkscrew used to be a quiet, two-lane road...
Road Design, Congestion, and Safety
The rapid growth in Estero has made East Corkscrew a major roadway in Fort Myers, but with this progression comes increased congestion, safety concerns, and pressure on nearby land and wildlife. Over the years, East Corkscrew has gone from a rural area into a major...
Larry Kiker Preserve
The Larry Kiker Preserve, which was originally intended for conservation, is currently being redesigned as a large water management project to help alleviate the problems of flooding and water quality within the area. While this is a good step for the increasing...
Corkscrew Road: The Land Remembered
Up to 52 million taxpayer dollars were budgeted for the expansion of Corkscrew Road, but up until now, residents have seen nothing but traffic and nuisance in return. Before Fort Myers and Corkscrew Road became what it is today, there was a rugged settlement of...
East Corkscrew Road
East Corkscrew Road was erected in the 1930s, and in the early 2020’s, major expansions were implemented, transferring it from two to four lanes (2 on both sides). This change is due to the increasing population in Lee County. In another Engage Estero article it...
The Unseen Water Map: Wetlands, Drainage, Storm-Water Systems, Flood Concerns
East Corkscrew Road has continued to grow with improved accessibility and supported economic expansion. Due to the increase in new housing, commercial spaces, and road expansion, the water systems including wetlands, drainage patterns, and stormwater infrastructure...
Understanding the Ecology and Function of Estero’s Storm Water Ponds
Spring 2026 FGCU Student Essay Series East Corkscrew became a channel for conveying water because of increased development and stormwater systems and channel runoff through the area, but the tradeoff is increased pollution risk and environmental strain on local...
Sustainability in Estero
Our guest author this semester is Brandi Freeman, a senior at Florida Gulf Coast University majoring in Health Science. Her column will focus on sustainability - the impacts of environmental health, community well-being, and equitable access to resources on public...