Village of Estero Council presents project plans for Estero Parkway

The Village of Estero Council presented plans Wednesday for three roundabouts to be added to Estero Parkway, but some people living in the area aren’t thrilled about it.

The proposed roundabouts would be located on Estero Pkwy. just west of Three Oaks Parkway.

Projects to improve Estero Parkway have been controversial in the community as some residents believe it could create a safety hazard.

“This has been going on for two years and it’s about time that we resolve something one way or another,” said Jim Boesch, mayor of Village of Estero.

The council has two options for changing the busy street: maintain a four-lane roadway, add seven-foot bike lanes and six-foot sidewalks on both sides or narrow the roadway to two wider lanes, add wider sidewalks and put in three roundabouts in a one-mile stretch.

The four-lane option would cost taxpayers about $7.7 million and the two-lane plan with three roundabouts would cost at least a million more.

“In general the community I live in is against the roundabouts, but we have to rely on the council to make a proper decision,” resident Rick Fried said.

The council is expected to vote on one of the two options on June 6.

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