Students praise Estero Parkway bridge
Allison Gagliardi
Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: News
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The overpass is expected to cut traffic on Corkscrew Road by 10,000 cars a day.
The opening of the bridge is particularly accommodating for commuter students who reside in Coastal Village, a student living community, whose complex is made up of 70 to 80 percent of FGCU students, according to Cretta Hendley, a listing agent of Coastal Village.
"It is effecting our residents in a good way, they are very excited about it," Hendley said. "You can already notice a change in traffic."
Darin Hovis, a sophomore majoring in human performance, has lived in Coastal Village for two years.
The bridge is making a dramatic difference in his morning commute.
His usual commute of 15 minutes has cut down to five since the opening of Estero Parkway.
"During a typical week, I am back and forth between the apartment and campus five to seven times; sometimes more with sporting events and group meetings. Over the year, the new bridge is going to save me a ton in gas and time," Hovis said.
The bridge came with a price tag of $35 million. It was completed in less than two years. Construction began in the fall semester of 2007.
For Dan Hamilton, a junior majoring in finance, the road's completion could not come fast enough. Hamilton has been a resident of Coastal Village since the beginning of the semester.
"I love it. It definitely speeds everything up," he said. "I left the time I usually leave my apartment and actually made it to class early."
Estero Parkway is the first I-75 overpass in Lee County since the early 1980s.
Coastal Village expects Estero Parkway to increase its business with the students of FGCU.
"I believe it will be helpful to us," Hendley said.
The overpass formly opened Friday with a ribbon cutting ceremony with 150 attending.
Participants cut the ribbon, said a prayer and walked over the mile long bridge.
Lee County Commissioner, Frank Mann, Ray Judah and Brian Bigelow attended the ceremony. Estero Chamber of Commerce President Meg Judge and Don Eslick, chairman of the Estero Council of Community Leaders, were also in attendance.
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