Improvements planned for Corkscrew Road

On Tuesday, Lee County commissioners will discuss widening Corkscrew Road to alleviate its traffic issues.

If you live in Estero, you already know the struggle of getting around Corkscrew Road, dangerously congested from the new houses popping up, from the traffic of building those communities and from commutes to school. In February, Sgt. Jeff Reidy of the Naples Police Department died in a crash on that road, east of Ben Hill Griffin Parkway. Everyone seems to agree a change is necessary.

“Because of the amount of growth that we’re seeing out there with the additional communities, we have seen an uptick in some of the number of crashes, but not to the extent that you would think,” said Susan Lindenmuth, director of public affairs for Estero Fire Rescue. “In 2019, we did run 54 crashes in that area, but of course in 2020, with everybody being home a lot more often, there was a lot less: we were only at about 40. This year, we’ve run about 12.”

That’s 12 crashes in just the past three months. And the county knows this danger, which is why it’s willing to spend $23 million for just the first phase of expanding the road. The project would widen Corkscrew Road from two lanes to four; part of it, closer to Ben Hill Griffin Parkway, will even have six lanes.

The village of Estero is also investing money, adding traffic lights along the way and sprucing it up with some greenery. People say they just try to avoid that road as much as possible right now, because of the traffic.

“We’re down here about three or four months out of the year and everything, in and out of Bella Terra,” said Jim Mueller of Estero. “Thank God we have a traffic light that helps just getting in and out, but the traffic on Corkscrew is getting pretty intense.”

“It’s a growing pain, but it is a good problem to have,” said Mayor William Ribble of Estero. “It has to be done. Everyone knows it has to be done. The commission, they’re ready to move forward with the project.”

Phase one would start construction in April. More construction, of course, meaning there will be even more of a traffic headache for a little while longer. Phase two will be from Bella Terra to Alico Road. The project’s total cost will be about $52 million.