Reporter: Emily Young
•8/31/2026
ESTERO, Fla. (WINK) — Drivers who regularly travel I-75 between Lee and Collier counties know the frustration of sitting in traffic.
Now, the Florida Department of Transportation wants to hear from the people who use the highway the most as it moves forward with plans to widen a 21-mile stretch of I-75.
FDOT is holding the first of two in-person public meetings on Monday to discuss the project, which would run from Golden Gate Parkway in Collier County to Alico Road in Lee County.
The meeting will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at Estero Community Park, located on Corkscrew Palms Boulevard just off Corkscrew Road.
According to FDOT, the project would include:
Noise walls are solid barriers designed to block or deflect highway noise from nearby neighborhoods. For residents living near I-75, the proposed changes are raising concerns about noise and light pollution.
Carolyn Cofield, who lives near the project area, said she plans to attend the meeting to learn more about the proposed noise barriers and how the project could affect her community.
“There’s going to be more light pollution. There’s going to be sound pollution,” Cofield said. “They said that they were going to put up a wall. It’s a sound barrier wall, but that was the first time that I talked to the representative, so I don’t know what’s happening in the next meeting, but we’ll definitely be there to find out.”
FDOT says the project is intended to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion along the busy stretch of I-75.
Residents who cannot attend Monday’s meeting in Estero will have another opportunity on Tuesday.
The second in-person meeting will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at North Collier Regional Park.
There will also be a virtual public meeting on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Residents can attend the meetings to learn more about the proposed improvements and provide feedback to FDOT.
