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Introduction

East Corkscrew Road — once a rural two-lane road — has become a significant growth area in Estero and eastern Lee County. Over the past 25-plus years (see Appendix 1 for a summary), this corridor has seen intense residential growth, evolving transportation needs, and planning challenges shaped by environmental safeguards and infrastructure constraints. For current and future residents, knowing what has been built, what’s happening now, and what’s projected will help you appreciate the long-term community that will develop.

Growth in a Sensitive Environment

This corridor spans parts of Lee County’s Density Reduction/Groundwater Resource (DR/GR) area, where development is regulated to protect groundwater and natural systems. As housing and commercial projects have proliferated, careful planning has been required to balance conservation with new infrastructure, especially roads, water management, and utilities. (See Appendix 2.)

Local government and developers have had to navigate these environmental constraints while advancing expansion. This context continues to shape decisions about where to locate new homes, shops, and roads.

Roadway Transformations: Corkscrew Road Expansion

One of the most significant long-term public works projects is the widening of Corkscrew Road — a multi-phase effort to improve mobility as the corridor’s population grows:

Phase 1 – Ben Hill Griffin Parkway to Bella Terra

Phase 1, already completed, widened Corkscrew Road to six lanes in some segments and four lanes in others. It included adding bike lanes, sidewalks, drainage upgrades, and an early wildlife crossing to improve safety and connectivity.

Phase 2 – Bella Terra to Alico Road

Construction is underway (2024–2026) to widen this segment to four lanes, add a landscaped median, install new signalization (completed at the Alico Road intersection), upgrade utilities, and build stormwater infrastructure, including retention ponds. Motorists can expect occasional lane shifts, trucks hauling materials, and active construction zones through spring 2026.

Future Corkscrew Road Phases

Based on local transportation planning:

• Phase 3 is planned to widen Corkscrew Road from Alico Road east to Verdana Village, with construction currently projected to begin in the early 2030s.
• Phase 4 would expand Corkscrew Road from Verdana Village to the Kingston development area, with timing yet to be finalized.
• In addition, widening may occur west of I-75 to Three Oaks Parkway to accommodate even more growth. These projects are part of Lee County’s and the Lee MPO’s long-range transportation planning.

Connectivity Beyond Corkscrew Road

Improving the corridor doesn’t stop with one road. Other planned and studied transportation elements include:

• I-75 Widening: The Florida Department of Transportation has plans to widen Interstate 75 through Collier and Lee counties starting in 2026, which is expected to improve regional connectivity and reduce congestion for Corkscrew Road commuters.
• North–South Connector (State Road 951 Corridor): Lee County has studied a potential north–south arterial east of Corkscrew Road. While feasibility work is underway, residents and communities have mixed interests, and planning parties are examining optimal routing.

Housing and Community Development

East Corkscrew has become synonymous with residential growth. Several large master-planned communities define this corridor:

• River Creek, Wild Blue, The Preserve at Corkscrew, The Place at Corkscrew, Verdana Village — among others — have added tens of thousands of homes, with many still under construction or in early phases.
• Verdana Village includes retail space anchored by a Publix, plus additional dining and service tenants planned for the future. Verdana is now approximately 80% built out.
• Estero Crossing is a planned mixed-use project along East Corkscrew Road with retail and luxury apartments underway.
• The Kingston Development. Phase 1of this large development is now underway. Cameratta Companies’ proposed development will include 10,000 dwelling units, a 240-unit hotel, 700,000 square feet of commercial space, and 3,287 acres of restoration, conservation, and flow-way.
• FFD (Florida Farms Development) Project East Corkscrew Road.  FFD is a 5,208-acre site on the south side of Corkscrew Road, just east of Corkscrew Shores and west of Six L’s Farm Road, which was of interest to GL Homes, who had planned a significant development involving:
  • 5,208 residential units (single-family and multi-family) 1 unit per gross acre
  • 100,000 square feet of commercial uses
  • 240,000 square feet of amenity area use

Although the company with a lease on the land has had it lapse, it seems likely this will be only temporary, given that other developers are reviewing the site.

• Corkscrew Grove Village. In March 2025, Alico Inc. announced plans to build Corkscrew Grove Village, a 4,660-acre master-planned community on a former grove on Corkscrew Road. The plans call for two 1,500-acre villages, with the possibility of 4,500 homes and 280,000 square feet of commercial space in each village. There will also be 6,000 acres of permanent conservation area.

• A 20-acre mixed-use project at Via Coconut Point and Corkscrew was approved, bringing more housing and commercial space with amenities and pedestrian connections.

Development in these communities is shaping the demographic, economic, and social character of Lee County on Estero’s eastern edge. View the Engage Estero Development Summary for more details.

Public Services and Infrastructure Investments

As homes have been built, so too has essential infrastructure:

• Estero Fire Rescue Station No. 45 opened to serve the growing eastern corridor, improving emergency response times for residents in new and existing communities.
• Utility expansions, drainage systems, sidewalks, bike paths, and landscaping are integrated into road projects to enhance safety and quality of life.
• But is it being carried out fast enough, and is it addressing residents’ needs? Please drop us an email and tell us what is needed: info@esterotoday.com

Environmental Balance and Planning Challenges

Growth brings trade-offs. Coordinating development with environmental protections continues to be a key focus:

• Lee County’s DR/GR regulations require conservation set-asides, groundwater protection measures, and sometimes hydrologic restoration work for new developments.
• Planned neighborhoods often include preserved open space and water management systems to address flood mitigation and wildlife habitat.
• Local stakeholders continue to discuss how to manage traffic impacts, preserve natural features, and balance growth with infrastructure capacity.

Active community participation with the assistance of The East Corkscrew Alliance and Engage Estero, in public meetings and planning processes, gives residents a voice in these decisions.

What This Means for Residents Now and in the Future

Traffic and Mobility
Ongoing and future road projects mean traffic patterns will keep changing. Widening brings temporary delays but ultimately increases capacity and safety for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Services and Amenities
New retail, public services (like fire rescue), parks, and multi-use paths are expanding lifestyle options — making the corridor more walkable and connected.

Community Character
As development continues, this area is transitioning from a rural corridor to a more urbanized suburban hub. Thoughtful planning aims to preserve environmental quality while accommodating growth.

Stay Engaged
Regularly check Lee County and the Village of Estero planning updates, as well as Engage Estero updates, attend community meetings, and participate in the Lee MPO process. Residents have real influence over zoning decisions, road planning priorities, and environmental strategies.

Latest Suggestion for Increased and More Immediate Road Improvements.

On January 16th, 2026, Kendall Brandt, a reporter for Gulf Coast News, stated, “Leaders with the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) are set to discuss the potential for a 1% sales tax increase to fund roadway projects. If it moves forward, the decision would ultimately be left to voters.”

Don Scott, Executive Director of the MPO, said, “The additional sales tax revenue would expedite roadway projects scheduled years down the road or support those with insufficient funding through 2050. This proposal follows leaders and residents expressing concerns about the need for infrastructure improvements”.

Given the concerns many residents have expressed at our Community Meetings about road congestion and safety in our area, this would seem a sensible suggestion – provided the revenue generated is not siphoned off for other purposes!