Driving the roads of the Greater Estero Area since 2012, I have identified key roads and areas that pose serious concerns. Safety is my priority, and I’m dedicated to working toward improvements that make our community safer for everyone:

Speeding:

US41 runs through the Village, and especially at night, residents near US41 hear cars and motorbikes speeding by. There was an accident at US41 and Williams Rd, where speeding contributed to five deaths in November, 2023.

Estero Parkway from US41 to Three Oaks Parkway. Although the speed limit is 45 mph, many vehicles travel at speeds close to 60 mph.

Corkscrew Rd between Ben Hill Griffin and the Bella Terra community has a posted speed limit of 45 mph, but vehicles often exceed this, traveling at 55+ mph. This is especially hazardous during the current construction and school year, when school buses stop along the side of the road to pick up and drop off students.

Stopping/parking in turn lanes:

Twice a year, car haulers stop or park in turn lanes to pick up and drop off vehicles for transporting north. According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO), this is illegal, and if witnesses see it, LCSO will have them move. There is concern for residents and snowbirds, as residents need to be able to decelerate in the turn lanes, and car haulers require a designated area to pick up vehicles. I am not sure what the answer is to this concern. A safe option is for these large vehicles to arrange pickup in a large parking lot, such as the one at Coconut Point.

Landscape vehicles regularly park in turn lanes while performing their services, such as maintaining the landscaping in the road median and sides. When space permits, the landscapers pull their vehicles into the median away from traffic lanes. This should happen consistently.

Bike/Pedestrian crossings:

As the Seminole Gulf railroad right of way is purchased for BERT, bike and pedestrian bridges will need to be installed over Corkscrew Road. Additional crossings will also be required.

As described in a US Dept. of Transportation report, a “Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) is a traffic control device similar to a European pedestrian signal imported into the US and adapted by engineers in Arizona to raise motorists’ awareness of pedestrian crossings at uncontrolled marked crosswalk locations. A PHB differs from pre-timed traffic signals and constant flash warning beacons because it is only activated by pedestrians when needed.

“PHBs have been shown to reduce pedestrian crashes significantly. A Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) study published in 2010¹ found that pedestrian hybrid beacons can reduce pedestrian crashes by 69 percent and total crashes by 29 percent. Because PHBs remain dark until activated, they can help increase driver attention to pedestrians crossing the roadway and can reduce rear-end collisions.

“The pedestrian hybrid beacon’s red signal indication removes any judgment from the motorists and requires a complete stop. The PHB provides a clear message that motorists must stop and allow pedestrians to cross the street. Motorist compliance with the requirement to yield has been shown to exceed 90 percent at PHBs.²

“PHBs are becoming increasingly popular with State and local transportation agencies to fill the gap between unprotected crosswalks and full traffic signals, serving pedestrians. PHBs are useful in locations where traditional crosswalk signage and markings do not yield adequate motorist compliance rates, and where the deployment or cost of a full traffic signal would not be warranted. This includes mid-block crossings or uncontrolled mainline crossing points.”

While pedestrian hybrid beacons may provide the ability to cross roads safely, sometimes a bike/pedestrian bridge would be required. Two locations highlight a need for a bridge:

Around the Corkscrew Rd/US 41 intersection to link the Estero River park, Koreshan State Park, and the Boomer house and property.

Near the Coconut Road crossing of US41.

There are a few locations that could benefit from a traffic signal:

A traffic signal at Corkscrew (LC DOT) Road, near Estero Crossing Blvd and WildBlue Blvd, serves Village Districts 5 and 7. Previously, it was understood that the traffic signal did not meet the installation requirements in Lee County. RiverCreek Development, WildBlue Commercial, and WildBlue Development provided funding for the signal.

Unfortunately, the three entities were unable to agree on funding the traffic signal. The WildBlue commercial deposited $200K with Lee County for their share. WildBlue Development did not see the need for the traffic signal and declined to participate. RiverCreek Development agreed to its fair share and deposited the funding in an escrow account.

FDOT Traffic Signal at US 41 at Pelican Colony Blvd – Village District 1. FDOT. The developer/CDD hired an engineer, and the Village of Estero Public Works has been exchanging emails and information to obtain approval. Warrants did not justify the installation of a traffic signal at this intersection. The surrounding communities, developers, and CDDs are required to pay for the signalization.

FDOT Traffic signal on US41 at Sweetwater Ranch Rd and Fountain Lakes Blvd – Village Districts 1 & 6. The warrants for this intersection did/does not justify a traffic signal. If the surrounding communities or developers desire a fully operational traffic signal, they must fund its installation and maintenance. A flashing signal currently exists for the Estero Fire Rescue station. Converting a flashing signal to a functional traffic signal is not straightforward, and it may be more sensible to remove the current flashing signal and replace it with a new one.

Lighting at Intersections

The Lee County Metropolitan Planning Office (MPO) is conducting a study on street lighting at intersections to assess whether there is sufficient lighting for safe travel through the intersection at night.

Visual Obstructions

Landscaping that prevents a sufficient line of sight at intersections. This may be an issue for the Village to conduct a study.

Roads and Intersections that have been and will be a challenge

Widening Corkscrew Rd (LC DOT) from I-75 to US 41. This County Road is currently over capacity, and widening is included in the MPO Long Range Transportation Plan.

Corkscrew Rd and Three Oaks Parkway (both LC DOT). There are insufficient turn lanes on Three Oaks Parkway. The turn lanes on Corkscrew Road are not long enough to support the traffic when there is an accident on I-75, which occurs almost daily, especially during the “season”. This upgrade is in the MPO Long Range Transportation Plan.

River Ranch (Village of Estero) Road – Roadway Improvements – Village District 4. Resurfacing and widening to add 1-ft shoulders, Sidewalks & crosswalks, and drainage improvements. River Ranch Road Improvements—Roadway, drainage, and bicycle/pedestrian improvements along River Ranch Road include the Williams Road Intersection roundabout and Estero High School turn lane improvements. These are in the Village’s out-of-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

US41/Williams Road/Atlantic Gulf (Village of Estero) Intersection Improvements (Williams Rd West Roundabout) – Village Districts 2, 4, & 6. Construct roadway intersection improvements on Williams Road east of US-41 to prevent illegal left turns out of the Walgreens parking lot and improve left-turn vehicle stacking at US-41. Potential improvements include extending the eastbound left turn at US-41, installing a traffic separator to prevent left turns from Walgreens and Atlantic Gulf Drive, and constructing a roundabout at Life Care Center.

Coconut (Village of Estero) Road West [of US 41] 3 Roundabouts – Village District 1. The Coconut Road Traffic Study recommends the installation of three roundabouts (Coconut Shores, Meadowbrook, and El Dorado) along Coconut Road, west of US-41. The Study indicates the existing intersection will reach capacity in 2028.

As traffic along Coconut Road increases with future development, making southbound left turns (the predominant movement at each intersection) onto Coconut Road will become more complex. The Coconut Shores, Meadowbrook, and El Dorado entrances are expected to fail. Roundabouts were recommended to improve these intersections, allowing vehicles and pedestrians to cross Coconut Road. These are in the Village’s out-of-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

Access to Estero (Lee County) Community Park from Via Coconut (Village of Estero) Road – Village District 4. Unfortunately, the Lee County Parks and Recreation Department is not planning to create a main entrance off Via Coconut Road. There is a safety concern as cars turning left (westbound) onto Corkscrew Rd from the community park, Estero Historical Society, and office park risk their lives to merge onto Corkscrew Rd. There is no plan for a traffic signal at Corkscrew (LC DOT) Road to ensure safe westbound turns.

Turning eastbound onto Estero (Village of Estero) Parkway from Walmart – Village District 2. Walmart customers have two options to exit and go eastbound: 1) Go to the back of Walmart, turn sharply at Nuthatch Lane, and the entrance to Osprey Cove, make a left onto Estero Parkway. 2) Turn right onto Estero Parkway, cross three lanes of traffic, and make a U-turn at the traffic light at Estero Parkway and US 41. Both options carry some risk.

Cascades Isles Blvd/Reserve Estero Tract Ct at Estero (Village of Estero) Parkway. Turning left from either the Cascades or the Reserve at Estero communities onto Estero Parkway can be dangerous. Both communities have discussed this issue with Village staff and council members. An option is for the two communities to fund a roundabout.

While these are the authors’ observations, they are based on conversations with friends, neighbors, and residents at civic meetings and village meetings, as well as information gathered. If you have additional roads or intersections to add to the list, please comment below with reasons for including them.

In Summary

The document addresses several road safety issues and infrastructure problems in the Greater Estero Area. Here are the main points:

• Speeding: People are speeding on major roads like US41, Estero Parkway, and Corkscrew Road, which is dangerous, especially near schools and homes. A serious accident occurred at the intersection of US 41 and Williams Road in 2023 due to excessive speeding.
• Illegal parking: Car haulers and landscaping trucks are stopping in turn lanes, which is risky. They should park in designated areas, such as Coconut Point.
• Pedestrian safety: They recommend installing Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons (PHBs) and bike/pedestrian bridges, especially over Corkscrew Road, to make crossing safer.
• Traffic signals: Some intersections need traffic signals, like Corkscrew Rd near Estero Crossing Blvd and US41 at Pelican Colony Blvd. Funding and community contributions are required.
• Lighting and visibility: The Lee County MPO is checking if street lighting at intersections is enough, and landscaping that blocks sightlines might need to be assessed.
• Road widening: Corkscrew Rd from I-75 to US41 is over capacity and needs widening. Turn lanes at Corkscrew Road and Three Oaks Parkway need to be extended to handle traffic surges.
• Village road improvements: Projects include resurfacing and widening River Ranch Road with added sidewalks and drainage, improving the intersection at US41/Williams Road, and installing roundabouts on Coconut Road west of US41.
• Community access points: There’s no main entrance off Via Coconut Road to Estero Community Park, causing hazardous left turns onto Corkscrew Road. Walmart’s exit routes eastbound onto Estero Parkway also carry risks.
• Community involvement: Residents are encouraged to report road safety concerns to Engage Estero, which works with local authorities to address issues.

Engage Estero will gather any additional information and discuss the issues with the relevant individuals from FDOT, LDOT, and the Village Management to ensure awareness and work toward securing appropriate action.