Over the last ten years, housing off East Corkscrew Road (Ben Hill Griffin to Alico Road) has increased exponentially. This, in turn, resulted in increased traffic.

There will be a break in the Corkscrew Road median at both locations for cars to go westbound. Currently, residents are going halfway and then westbound when it is clear. LDOT traffic engineers do not recommend this action!

As traffic increases and construction starts/continues, there will be challenges for Corkscrew Shores and Corkscrew Estates residents to go westbound on Corkscrew Road. Hopefully, the Phase II widening will have a significantly longer left turn lane on eastbound Corkscrew Road at Alico Road for U-turns.

The information below will help you to understand the traffic signal warrant process.

What is a signal warrant? A warrant is a condition that an intersection must meet to justify a signal installation. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) specifies nine “traffic control signal needs studies”, known as warrants. Warrants provide the justification we need to determine if a traffic signal is the right solution. Warrants prevent unnecessary traffic signals from being installed. It is challenging to have signals removed later when they are deemed unwarranted.

There are nine warrants outlined in section 4C.01 of the MUTCD. https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009/part4/part4c.htm

Standard:

01 An engineering study of traffic conditions, pedestrian characteristics, and physical characteristics of the location shall be performed to determine whether installing a traffic control signal is justified at a particular location.

02 The investigation of the need for a traffic control signal shall include an analysis of factors related to the existing operation and safety at the study location and the potential to improve these conditions and the applicable factors contained in the following traffic signal warrants:

Warrant 1, Eight-Hour Vehicular Volume

Warrant 2, Four-Hour Vehicular Volume

Warrant 3, Peak Hour

Warrant 4, Pedestrian Volume

Warrant 5, School Crossing

Warrant 6, Coordinated Signal System

Warrant 7, Crash Experience

Warrant 8, Roadway Network

Warrant 9, Intersection Near a Grade Crossing

It is essential to understand that the satisfaction of a signal warrant, or multiple warrants, shall not in itself require the installation of a traffic signal. The satisfaction of a warrant merely permits an

engineer to determine that a traffic signal should be installed. The final decision is made based on the judgment of a traffic engineer.

So why do we have this warranting procedure? Traffic signals can increase crash frequencies, specifically rear-end type crashes. For this reason (in the case of Corkscrew Road – LDOT), we want to be sure a traffic signal is the right solution to a demonstrated problem.

Standard:
The need for a traffic control signal shall be considered if an engineering study finds that all the following criteria are met:

1. Adequate trial of alternatives with satisfactory observance and enforcement has failed to reduce the crash frequency and
2. Five or more reported crashes of types susceptible to correction by a traffic control signal have occurred within 12 months, each crash involving personal injury or property damage exceeding the applicable requirements for a reportable crash and
3. For each of any 8 hours of an average day, the vehicles per hour (mph) given in both of the 80 percent columns of Condition A in Table 4C-1 (see Section 4C.02) or the vph in both of the 80 percent columns of Condition B in Table 4C-1 exists on the major-street, and the higher-volume minor-street approach, respectively, to the intersection, or the volume of pedestrian traffic is not less than 80 percent of the requirements specified in the Pedestrian Volume warrant. These major-street and minor-street volumes shall be for the same 8 hours. On the minor street, the higher volume shall not be required to be on the same approach during the 8 hours.

So, what can the residents of Wildcat Run and The Preserve at Corkscrew do? Be cautious and turn left when traffic is light or turn right when traffic is heavy and make a U-turn as soon as they can get in the left lane.

The last and most unpopular possibility is having the communities agree to fund a traffic signal. This can be cost-prohibitive, approaching $500k per traffic signal.

Corkscrew Road is a Lee County Road (850), and there is only so much the Village of Estero can do. Corkscrew Road widening Phase II is outside the Village of Estero in unincorporated Lee County. LDOT has held multiple meetings on Corkscrew Road widening. Sign up for updates on Corkscrew Road widening efforts to keep informed.  https://corkscrewroadwidening.com/

It would be best to consider contacting your Lee County Commissioner to address any issues.