Site Navigation Alabama Florida Georgia Louisiana Mississippi North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee     Marco Island and Naples The antithesis of the Atlantic coast, the Gulf coast operates on a much quieter, more relaxed pace. Everything that Miami is, places like Naples and Marco Island are not. However, they are only a couple hours' drive apart, so the climate and beach mentality are shared between South Florida and Southwest Florida. This page profiles the roads of Marco Island, the northernmost of the Ten Thousand Islands chain that sit offshore from Collier and Monroe Counties in Southwest Florida. Marco is the last outpost before reaching the vast Everglades wilderness. A vacation destination and retiree haven, Marco and Naples have become wealthy over the years as more retirees move to the region. However, with the ongoing growth, the relaxed pace has accelerated somewhat over the years. Marco Island was developed starting in the 1960s. It was aggressively marketed to retirees in the northern part of the United States planning to retire in the tropical climate of Florida. As a result, retirees plotted the location of their dream houses for their retirement, and they moved to the island in droves. Originally, the entire island was to be developed, but environmental restrictions prevented complete development of Marco Island. However, man's presence on Marco Island is clear: manmade canals criss-cross the island to ensure that each home would have access to take a boat out to the Marco River and Gulf of Mexico. The roads on the island conform to a typical suburban feel, with cul-de-sacs and ranch-style houses with a Florida appeal, with the canals flowing in between the roads. The Deltona Corporation spear-headed the development and construction of the island into what it is today, and it is still involved to some extent today. With the demand for beachfront property, condominiums have arisen on the island, especially against the Gulf of Mexico. These high rises are sometimes owner occupied, but they are frequently rented out on a weekly or monthly basis to vacationers, locally known as "snowbirds." The busiest tourist season is between Christmas and Easter, which includes the various college spring break periods. Marco Island continues to grow, as the remaining vacant land is developed. It will be interesting to see how it will grow once build-out is complete. Nearby Naples has been growing at an amazing rate through the years, and like many mid-size cities, it has wrestled with determining what kind of city it wants to be. As such, Naples ranges from the extremely high end to the midrange, and it continues to expand with new golf courses, condominiums, and estates. Most of the best shopping regionally may be found in Naples, and the walkable downtown features several boutiques and specialty shops. Approaching the Southwest Florida region from the east via the Everglades Parkway (Alligator Alley), Interstate 75 provides the most direct route to Miami from Florida's Gulf Coast. Interstate 75 also leads north toward Fort Myers (and its international airport), Port Charlotte, Venice, Sarasota, Bradenton, and Tampa. This road was only built in the 1980s, completed in 1986, and it is already overwhelmed with traffic. Plans call for Interstate 75 to be widened to six lanes in the coming years. For more, see Interstate 75 Florida. Tamiami Trail U.S. 41 serves South Florida and Southwest Florida as part of the Tamiami Trail, connecting Miami and Tampa. The highway is two lanes upon entering Collier County, but quickly widens to four lanes near its junction with Florida 951 and again to six lanes once in the urbanized areas of Naples. U.S. 41 remains a divided highway throughout Collier County, but it usually a slower route for through traffic. Interstate 75, which lies east of Naples, is the best alternative. For more, visit U.S. 41 Florida. Davis Boulevard Florida 84 is Davis Boulevard in Naples, connecting U.S. 41/Florida 90 with Interstate 75/Florida 93. A second section of Florida 84 exists in Broward County, through Fort Lauderdale. Florida 84 used to cross the Florida Peninsula over the Everglades Swamp via what is now Interstate 75/Florida 93 and the Alligator Alley. With the completion of the Interstate highway in the early 1990s, Florida 84 has three distinct components: its routing in Naples, on the Gulf Coast; as a frontage road along Interstate 595 between Interstate 75 and Interstate 95; and finally as a separate route connecting with U.S. 1. The Collier County section of Florida 84 has 6.494 miles and the Broward County section has 28.452 miles. Westbound Florida 84 Florida 84 reaches its western terminus at its intersection with U.S. 41/Florida 90 (Fifth Avenue) southeast of downtown Naples. Since END shields are so rare for state/county routes in Florida, this is a neat find. One other END shield may be found at the southern terminus of Collier County Route 851. First two photos taken 12/26/04; third photo taken 1/06/01. Florida 951/Collier County Route 951 is the main route from U.S. 41 into Marco Island. Florida 951 is the section of Collier Boulevard between Collier County Route 92 and U.S. 41. Collier County Route 951 picks up from U.S. 41 and continues north into Golden Gate, where the county route terminates at Collier County Route 846. The county-maintained segment is just as important as the state-maintained segment south of Interstate 75. Florida 951 actually begins near the residents' beach on Marco Island, near the County Route 92 intersection. It follows Collier Boulevard off the island via the Judge Jolley Bridge, then extends north past U.S. 41 as a county route, then leads to Interstate 75 near Golden Gate. County Route 951 continues north of this point to end at County Route 846, which leads northeasterly toward Immokalee, Florida 29, and U.S. 27. For more visit Florida Road 951. Airport-Pulling Road Collier County Route 31 (Airport-Pulling Road) is a north-south route that parallels U.S. 41 and Interstate 75. It is a good alternative when those two routes are heavy with traffic, and it bypasses downtown Naples. This was formerly part of Florida 31. Northbound Collier County Route 31 View of northbound Collier County Route 31, Airport-Pulling Road, in Naples. Today, most reassurance shields and trailblazer shields indicate the county route with a pentagon shield. However, in the 1980s and 1990s, Collier County Route 31 was signed as "C-31" with a state shield. Photo taken 12/99. San Marco Road Collier County Route 92, which follows San Marco Road for its entire length, was originally Florida 92 when it was constructed in the late 1960s. It carries one of two bridges connecting Marco Island to the mainland, the Goodland Bridge. County Route 92 is the most direct route from the island east to U.S. 41, which is one of two ways to Miami. Eastbound Collier County Route 92 After crossing the Marco River via the Goodland Bridge, eastbound Collier County 92 is curiously signed as northbound as it enters the mainland and travels toward U.S. 41. Canals and other waterways permeate the area as the gulf gradually gives way to swamp. Photo taken 12/31/03. These power lines parallel Collier County Route 92 for its entire length, and through the estuaries, there are several poles that are higher than the others. These poles support nesting areas for birds, including the occasional bald eagle. Photo taken 12/31/03. A rare orange U.S. 41 shield is found as the first advance shield for the pending intersection with U.S. 41 along eastbound Collier County Route 92. Photo taken 12/31/03. Eastbound Collier County Route 92/San Marco Road reaches its eastern terminus at U.S. 41. Take U.S. 41 south to Big Cypress National Preserve, Everglades National Park, or South Florida (including Miami). Use U.S. 41 north to reach Naples and Interstate 75 (via Collier County Route 951). Photo taken 12/31/03. Westbound Collier County Route 92 Now on Marco Island, Collier County approaches its western terminus at Florida 951/Collier Boulevard near the Marco Residents Beach. Photo taken 12/30/03. At the intersection, the left lane Collier County Route 92 turns south on Collier Boulevard, while the right lane turns right onto northbound Florida 951/Collier Boulevard. Photo taken 12/30/03. A lone junction shield for Florida 951 signals the pending junction along Collier County Route 92. As usual, no END shields are present at this intersection. Photo taken 12/30/03. View of the intersection between San Marco Road (Collier County Route 92) and Collier Boulevard (Florida 951) as seen from the northeast corner, looking west. This intersection also marks the southern terminus of Florida 951. Photo taken 12/30/03. Other Collier County Route 92 Pictures To Alternate County Route 92. These signs, posted on Marco Island from Collier Boulevard (Florida 951) to San Marco Road (Collier County Route 92) via Barfield Drive or Bald Eagle Drive (Collier County Route 953), seem to mark those two roads as "alternate" routes; in reality, these are construction signs to keep traffic off State Route 951 during the ongoing widening project. The Florida 951 widening was completed in Summer 2000, and the second span to the Judge Jolley Bridge will be completed (according to current funding levels) by 2010. Photo taken 12/99. Old Florida 92 shield for Collier County Route 92 at the western terminus of Collier County Route 892 near Goodland. Photo taken 12/99. Goodland Bridge The Goodland Bridge was the first bridge to connect Marco Island to the mainland, back in the 1960s. It is named for the tiny fishing village of Goodland, which lies adjacent to County Route 92 via County Route 892. The bridge is built high to accommodate tall sailing vessels. Generally, these pictures were taken from Marco Island looking east toward the Marco River near Goodland. Photos taken 12/99 (last photo taken 12/29/03). Goodlette-Frank Road Collier County Route 851 is Goodlette-Frank Road, which parallels U.S. 41 through central and north Naples. Southbound Collier County Route 851 Southbound Collier County Route 851 (Goodlette-Frank Road) reaches its southern terminus at U.S. 41. A rare "END" shield is in use for the southern end. Note the odd shape of the U.S. 41 shields. Photo taken 01/02/04. Goodland Road Collier County Route 892 is Goodland Road, built as a "temporary" road to connect San Marco Road (Collier County Route 92) with the village of Goodland. It was constructed as a temporary road because the Deltona Corporation had intended to construct residences and canals on this part of the island. However, that development never occurred due to the environmental impact. So, County Route 892 is likely to remain the road into Goodland for some time to come. Westbound Collier County Route 892 This suite of photos shows the old signage that used to be seen along westbound Collier County Route 892 at its intersection with Collier County Route 92/San Marco Road. Note the faded U.S. 41 shield, which was orange at one time. All of these signs have been removed or replaced (see next photobox). Photos taken 12/99. The old signs shown in the previous suite of photos were replaced by the signs shown in the above picture. Photo taken 12/30/03. Other Collier County Route 892 Pictures This old Collier County Route 892 shield, found on westbound Collier County Route 92/San Marco Road, harkens back to the days when county routes were signed with Florida state shields with a "C-" prefix. It has since been replaced with a standard pentagon marker. Photo taken 12/99. Pine Ridge Road Collier County Route 896 is Pine Ridge Road, a six-lane divided highway connecting U.S. 41, Collier County Route 31, and Interstate 75 across the northern tier of Naples. It connects several shopping centers together, and it is a major commuting route. Delays at the 896/31 intersection have caused some to suggest that an interchange or some modified grade separation may be necessary at this location. Eastbound Collier County Route 896 Eastbound Collier County Route 896/Pine Ridge Road approaches its junction with U.S. 41. Photo taken 12/99. Eastbound Collier County Route 896/Pine Ridge Road reaches Collier County Route 31 (Airport-Pulling Road). This intersection is so busy that grade separation has been considered for it. Photo taken 12/99. Eastbound Collier County Route 896 approaches its junction with Interstate 75. Photo taken 12/99. Collier County Route 896/Pine Ridge Road eastbound reaches Interstate 75. Photo taken 12/99. Capri Road Collier County Route 952 connects Florida 951 (Collier Boulevard) with the Isle of Capri. Eastbound Collier County Route 952 approaches Junction Florida 951. The junction sign featured erroneous U.S. 951 signage along eastbound Collier County Route 952. Photo taken 12/99. The signage at the intersection was a large battered shield. Both of these signs are gone now that the Florida 951 expansion to four lanes is complete in this area. Photo taken 12/99. Page Updated March 9, 2005.