Has Sanibel been rebuilt?

— The Sanibel Causeway is being rebuilt with new materials to help it withstand future storms. When Hurricane Ian ripped through Southwest Florida in September of 2022, one of the most striking images was a partially collapsed Sanibel Causeway. “It's like nothing we've ever seen before.



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Though it's smaller than many Florida vacation towns, Sanibel Island has been a place important to many people for generations. With the community's efforts to rebuild, it will continue to be so.

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Pine Island Bridge repairs are expected to be completed by fall 2023 with an estimated cost of $25 million, while permanent repairs to the Sanibel Causeway will be completed by the end of 2023 with an estimated cost of $350 million.

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Note that Sanibel Island sustained significant damage in September 2022 as a result of Hurricane Ian. Though the island is open to the public as of January 2023, local officials are warning visitors that much of the island's attractions and businesses remain closed.

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An estimated 6,400 people lived in the City of Sanibel as of April 2021, according to the US Census Bureau. The island is also home to a number of hotels and resorts and sees a significant amount of tourists each year.

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The goal is to finish that by the end of 2023. The rest of the repairs and Lee County Causeway Island improvement projects will be done sometime in 2024. Right now the price tag is nearly $340 million. It's mostly funded by The Federal Highway Administration, but Lee County is on the hook for about $51 million.

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By Staff | Jan 3, 2023 The Sanibel Causeway reopened Monday but the city of Sanibel government is asking non-residents to wait a while longer before visiting the storm-damaged island.

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Sanibel Causeway reopens after being damaged by Hurricane Ian. SANIBEL, Fla. — The causeway washed out by Hurricane Ian that links Sanibel Island to the Florida mainland reopened with temporary repairs on Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced.

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By consensus, the Sanibel City Council supported the decision to end the requirement for reentry passes on January 2, 2023. The City of Sanibel asks that non-residents respect and understand the fact that Sanibel is still actively working to recover from Hurricane Ian.

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Although the islands remain sundered, things are a bit quieter now. Today the southern island, still known as Captiva, is a beautiful and pricey tourist destination reachable by car over a causeway from the mainland near Fort Myers.

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The City of Sanibel is excited to announce that all public access beach park locations in Sanibel are now open to the public. The city announced on Thursday that the following areas are set to open Friday, June 30: Bayside parking lot at 110 – 153 Periwinkle Way for Lighthouse Beach Park.

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By TIFFANY REPECKI - | Oct 2, 2023. It has been one year since Hurricane Ian brought the islands to a halt with its devastating damage and the recovery of the Sanibel-Captiva business community has been a slow one — but it is returning.

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The Sanibel Causeway that once welcomed residents and visitors to the island was also partially destroyed. With no access to the island, residents were left wondering what remained of their properties and hometown. An aerial picture taken on September 30, 2022 shows the collapsed Sanibel Causeway.

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The good news is several of the island's establishments – stores, restaurants, and resorts – have reopened. Longtime island favorites 'Tween Waters Island Resort and The Mucky Duck are open. Andy Rosse Lane Beach and Alison Hagerup Beach Park are open as well, with parking payable via the ParkMobile App.

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FDOT's proposed timeline for the upgraded Sanibel Causeway is one year. The cumulative cost for this project is just over $285 million. Commissioners plan to seek federal infrastructure funds to pay most of the cost. This would bring Lee County's share of the bill to about $51.6 million.

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In this aerial view, parts of Sanibel Causeway have washed away along with sections of the bridge after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on Sept. 29, 2022, in Sanibel, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges, and rain to the area, causing severe damage.

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At least five sections of the Sanibel Causeway — which connects the barrier islands, including Sanibel and Captiva, to the mainland — were washed away by the storm, Lee County officials said.

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Aerial photos and video of Sanibel show that The Bubble Room appears intact. Without seeing ground-level photos, it's tough to determine the extent of damage to the colorful restaurant for locals and tourists, some referring to it as the Beloved Bubble. The Bubble Room still stands!

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