Featured Events

Introduction.

East Corkscrew serves as the primary engine of growth for the greater Estero area. The decisions being made today regarding roads, schools, utilities, rock mines, cellular service, and environmental conservation will shape community life for decades to come.

As part of our commitment to transparent reporting, regular updates are provided on activities along Corkscrew Road—stretching from Ben Hill Griffin Parkway all the way to the Collier County line. Serving both as a Consultant to Engage Estero and Chair of the East Corkscrew Alliance, I research and compile critical data for residents, local businesses, and municipal stakeholders. While these two organizations previously operated with distinct objectives and delivery channels, their missions have fully aligned.

This update marks the formal conclusion of the East Corkscrew Alliance as an ad-hoc community group. The Alliance’s core mission—to inform and advocate for resident priorities such as widening Corkscrew Road, elevating traffic safety, supporting local schools, and protecting conservation lands—will now be fully carried forward by Engage Estero.

The Big Picture: East Corkscrew is growing fast

The update below identifies homes built and those in planning. We use 2.2 people per home as a planning assumption. By the end of June 2026, the number of homes surpassed 10,000. These numbers help clarify the scale.

What’s Happening Along Corkscrew Road?

Multi-use path, street lights, and landscaping.

The Village of Estero is making progress. Estimated completion is Fall 2026. Landscape irrigation piping installation was completed in May 2026. Installation of sprinkler heads and drip lines began in late July 2026. 

The multi-use path section along the Stoneybrook development - currently without a multi-use path - is stalled until the remaining poles are removed. The multi-use path needs to be installed on a small section in front of the Self-storage, but power poles are in the way. 

There are a few street lights missing in front of the Self-Storage and the water treatment plant. Sections of the multiuse path on the south side of Corkscrew Road were completed the week of August 31st, 2026. Only a few sections remain to be completed.

David Willems provided the following: “The contractor is working with FPL to get the power lines and poles out of the way so they can install the path and lights.” Many of the power poles were moved during the last week of September, and the street lights were installed in front of Stoneybrook the week of October 5th, 2026. Multiuse path lights are yet to be installed!

Landscaping in the median began in mid-June 2026 with sod removal. Lee County Utilities approved permits to use reclaimed water. Irrigation pump stations were being powered up and tested ahead of the landscaping installation.

Native landscaping started the week of August 10th, 2026, and continues.

Corkscrew Road widening: Phase II is progressing

Completion is projected for December 2026. The eastbound lanes are in place with the first lift, allowing 2-way traffic while the westbound lanes are under construction. Street lights have been installed and have been operational on the south side of Corkscrew Road in the construction zone since June 2026, helping provide safe travel at night.

During the overnight hours from 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 13, to 5 a.m. on Monday, September 14, crews installed new mast arms for the traffic signal at the Corkscrew Road and Alico Road intersection. Although the mast arms are in place, additional work remains, and the traffic light currently operates using the previous lights hanging from wires.

Crews will be paving on the north side of Corkscrew Road from the main entrance of Corkscrew Shores to Alico Road during daytime hours starting the week of October 12th, 2026. This includes the eastbound left-turn lane on Corkscrew Road to Alico Road. Use of the left-turn lane depends on the operation of the traffic light.

Anticipated completion is December 2026.

Corkscrew Road widening beyond Alico Road.

The Draft Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) 2050 Long-Range Transportation Plan shows no funding for additional widening of Corkscrew over the next 10 years. 

This author wonders if the start of the Alico Road extension in 4th quarter of 2026, with completion in late calendar year 2029, will provide any relief on Corkscrew Road from Alico Road west to I-75?

Brandon Dunn, Manager, Lee County Community Development – Planning Section, provided the following: “Lee County has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a consultant to assist with the data collection and calculations required to complete the impact study in compliance with State Statutes for roads, schools, and parks.” 

“Additionally, staff are currently reviewing these proposals, and at this time a consultant has not yet been selected. Therefore, I cannot provide an exact timeframe for when the study will be conducted or when results will be available. However, you should be aware that there have been recent changes to the State Statutes concerning impact fees. One of these changes requires that the new study be adopted by the local government within 12 months of the initiation of the new impact fee study if the local government increases impact fees. Therefore, once the consultant is selected and authorized to proceed, the study will be completed within one year.”

Contract award is expected in October 2026.

Unincorporated Lee County impact fees were last updated in 2018. 

Additional discussions indicate that there will be no effort to implement an infrastructure sales tax before the November 2026 midterm elections. 

It has been reported, “The potential for a sales tax was to help address the fact that county road construction plans call for $3.5 billion in work over the next 30 or so years, while existing revenue sources would produce about $1.5 billion.” 

A 2028 ballot measure is likely to include a sales tax option. If approved, the tax would be collected starting July 2029.

Rob Price, Director of Lee County DOT, was asked if we could schedule the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study for phase III widening so construction could start when funds are available. “Unfortunately, since no construction is planned for the next 10 years, the PD&E is only valid for 5 years and would need to be redone.”

What’s Happening with Kingston Village?

Model homes are already under construction in Kingston's Esplanade neighborhood. Cameratta Companies, the developer, is widening Corkscrew Road to 4 lanes (2 eastbound and 2 westbound) adjacent to Kingston Village. Construction has been ongoing for months, and on June 22, 2026, traffic was rerouted to the new eastbound lanes while work continued on the westbound lanes. Although work is progressing, much remains to be completed.

A new north-south connector, Kingston Village Parkway, will link Corkscrew Road to State Route 82. The intersection of Corkscrew Road and Kingston Village Parkway is under construction, with a traffic signal expected to be operational in the coming months. 

Kingston Village Parkway – currently under construction - to State Route 82 is expected to be completed with a traffic signal at State Route 82 by Winter 2027/2028.

Kingston Village is planned as a mix of commercial, retail, and residential uses. 

The Kingston Developer, Cameratta Companies, also donated land for a future Estero Fire Rescue fire station.

Schools: Is land available and are there plans for a new school?

The Kingston Village developer identified a parcel for a K–8 school. Lee District school planning documents indicate no K–8 school in the Lee District's 10-year plans.

The Place, Verdana, and Kingston developments are in Lee District Schools zones:

ES Zone Q – Elementary schools (Bonita Springs, Pinewood, San Carlos Park, Spring Creek, and Three Oaks). 

MS Zone GG – Middle Schools (Bonita Springs, Three Oaks).

HS South Zone 3 – High Schools (Bonita Springs (S3), Estero (S3), South Fort Myers (S2)) 

The developer, Cameratta Companies, did their homework (existing and future conditions analysis) and identified that the elementary schools (Pinewoods, Three Oaks, Bonita Springs, San Carlos Park, and Spring Creek), middle schools (Three Oaks, Bonita Middle), and high schools (South Ft Myers, Estero, Bonita Springs) are nearing or at capacity.

True North Classical Academy, a K-12 charter school with 3,100 students, is projected to open for the 2028/2029 school year (August 2028). In the first year, they will educate students from K through 2nd grade and expand from there.

True North Classical Academy briefed the community on Thursday, September 24th, 2026, at 6 pm at EFR Station 45. Details of the summary of the meeting can be viewed on Engage Esteros ’ website at https://esterotoday.com/sept2026/

Safety Hot Spots

Aldi’s, vacant lot, Self-Storage right in – right out

The Lee County Limited Development Order (LDO) and Right-of-Way permit for this development have both been issued. The Village of Estero requires this access before Aldi’s opens in December 2026. We requested that this construction be completed during the schools’ summer break, but that did not occur!

The approved Development Order (DO) plans include a right-turn lane at the new right-in, right-out access point. With the underground utility’s movement and alignment completed, grading began in late August 2026. The curbing concrete work began the week of August 31st, 2026. The concrete work includes the multi-use path through the right-in, right-out. Final grading and paving are all that remain.

Wildcat Run exiting their community.

The residents’ request for a traffic signal has been voiced for several years. Over the past eighteen months, their HOA Board has explored options. The village and LC DOT have given unofficial approval, pending funding for the signal. The Wildcat Run HOA intends to bring this question to the residents for approval this fall. 

The Rivercreek/Wild Blue signal

The Development Order (DO) required funding from the commercial property (gas station) and Rivercreek, with no requirement for Wild Blue, even though the developers had previously discussed cost-sharing. The gas station has already paid $200k to the county; Rivercreek has funds in escrow; and Wild Blue leadership does not agree to cost-sharing.

At a recent Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, LC DOT secured the right-of-way for the traffic signal from the commercial (gas station) property. The right-of-way from the Rivercreek Development has already been secured. The right-of-way for the traffic signal has not yet been secured from Wild Blue.

The construction and eventual operation of the 7-11 gas station at the intersection’s northwest corner will increase the need for a traffic signal.

The Village of Estero, BOCC, and LC DOT are aware of the need for this traffic signal.

To catch speeders, LC DOT installed marked white lines in the westbound lanes between Rivercreek and the Wildcat Run entrance to allow speed checks from the air – drones, helicopters, airplanes.

The Place/Pandion Golf Course

The Hoffmann Group acquired the Old Corkscrew golf course, rebranding it as Pandion Golf Course. Plans include upgrades beginning with permits and development order approvals starting in summer 2026, and the course will become private. It was also suggested to align the Golf Course entrance with The Place entrance and install a traffic signal. 

Commissioner Pendergrass indicated he has been in conversations with the Lee County Development division to work with the Hoffmann Group to align the golf course entrance to  The Place entrance—more information to come. A condition identified in the DO will provide physical land for eventual Corkscrew Road widening.

It appears there is some interest within The Place in pursuing a traffic signal at one entrance to The Place. The original proposal called for this expense to be evenly split between The Place and Old Corkscrew Golf Course.

Safety Concern: Need a 3rd exit lane coming out of Stoneybrook
Currently, there are only 2 lanes to exit the Miromar Design Center, CVS, Stoneybrook Community, and Stoneybrook Golf Course/Duffy’s Restaurant. The left lane is for left turns onto westbound Corkscrew Road, and the right lane is for through traffic and right turns. When the undeveloped land in front of Stoneybrook is developed, a 3rd lane will be needed. The left lane will be for left turns, the middle lane for through traffic, and the right lane for right turns.

Safety Concern: Reviving State Route 951
A local Florida legislator is again pushing for a north-south route between Lee and Collier Counties. There is a placeholder in the MPO plan identified as a toll road. There is no belief that there would be sufficient usage paying the toll to pay for it.

Safety Concern: Exiting Grand Oaks Plaza to EB Corkscrew Road 

To proceed eastbound on Corkscrew Road from the Grand Oaks Plaza, you have to cross 3 Corkscrew Road westbound lanes to make a U-turn at the traffic signal at Ben Hill Griffin Parkway/Stoneybrook Golf Drive. 

The Perkins restaurant was demolished during the week of August 3rd, 2026. Construction started on the Chick-fil-A in early September 2026. I think we all will have concerns about the traffic when this restaurant opens!

How good is your East Corkscrew Road cell service?

As with infrastructure requirements, cell service has been lagging along East Corkscrew. The following efforts are planned to support growth:

Cell tower construction on the Bella Terra commercial parcel. The tower was installed on April 30th, 2026. The electrical inspection was completed by June 30th, 2026. FP&L connected power by the end of July 2026. The order of cell connection is Verizon, T-Mobile, and then AT&T.

• • Verizon hardware installation began the week of July 27th, 2026. Verizon went live the week of August 24th, 2026. It has been reported that the Verizon user has 5 bars near the tower and drops to 3 bars by the 3rd circle in Bella Terra.
  • T-Mobile began installing its hardware the week of August 10th, 2026. There has been little to no activity over the past month. The cell tower owner has not received updates from T-Mobile or an updated schedule. The author reached out to the T-Mobile South Florida Government Relations representative and is awaiting an update.
  • AT&T will start after T-Mobile is installed and operational.

A Lee County-contracted radio tower with cell capability on a Lee County parcel East of Kingston Village, with estimated completion by the end of 2026.

Community concerns about a potential coverage "hole" around the FFD Farms (Development east of CREW, south of Corkscrew Road) area.

What other Developments on East Corkscrew Road are worth watching?

• FFD Farms’ property is still in the permitting stage.
• Summit Church is expanding to serve the growing Corkscrew Road / East Estero community by opening a new local church location
• Lee District schools are proceeding with the charter school contract termination of Classical Education Network, Inc., dba Optima Classical Academy at Estero.
• No action on the commercial property east of Corkscrew Shores. Best guess is that the owner is waiting for the Corkscrew Road Phase II construction to be completed.
• Corkscrew 80 (85 homes across from Verdana, north of Corkscrew Road) has no current actions in the development process. Sanitary sewer and potable water are issues.
• No information on the 20 acres next to the Pandion Golf Course, owned by the Hoffmann Group.
• Collier County Commissioners approved the Corkscrew Grove development in late April 2026, adding 9000 homes near Corkscrew Road and State Route 82.

What Questions Should East Corkscrew Road Residents be Asking?

1. Public vs. Private schools: When Pinewoods and Three Oaks Elementary are at capacity, where would my child attend in the public school system? What is school choice? How and when do we submit our school of choice? How do I find out about charter school opportunities? 
2. Bus Pick-Up and Drop-Off on Corkscrew Road: How can the school district and charter schools ensure student safety during the early-morning darkness and the afternoon rush?
3. Safe Routes to School: Once the multi-use path is complete, will bus transportation for my elementary school student be discontinued if we live 2 miles or less from the school?
4. Corkscrew Road Phase III+: Could wildlife crossings be constructed now using Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) grants to accelerate road widening when funding becomes available? What specific projects could a ½-cent or 1-cent sales tax accelerate, and what would it not fund?
5. Rivercreek/Wild Blue traffic signal: If the private cost share cannot be resolved, what is the Village/County's "Plan B" for safety in the interim?
6. What can be accomplished – short- and long-term – to safely enable Wildcat Run and The Place residents to access Corkscrew Road?

East Corkscrew is moving fast. Let us all keep the questions coming to Engage Estero. We need to stay informed, do our research, ensure our questions are specific, and continue seeking answers. The Lee County Commissioners, the Lee County Department of Transportation (LC DOT), and the Village of Estero appreciate our due diligence and engagement in answering questions and sharing information. Engage Estero has been actively advocating on your behalf and is engaged with multiple levels of local government and transportation agencies. 

Look for more updates coming in January 2027.