— 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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The great news is that many of our favorite Sanibel beaches are now open and ready for visitors! Here's what you need to know about which Sanibel beaches are open.
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.
General Access to the Sanibel Island Causeway/BridgeThe Sanibel Island Bridge is open to the public and accessible to all visitors who wish to explore the island's wonders. Whether you are planning a day trip or an extended stay, you can traverse the bridge without any restrictions.
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.
Sanibel Island attracts many people who choose to live year-round. It creates a very distinct and passionate local community, making Sanibel more than a vacation destination.
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.
A year later, construction continues on the causeway, as it does in Sanibel. Every structure here suffered at least some damage, and much of the community remains displaced. Of some 6,500 residents before the hurricane only 1,500 are back in their homes, and of more than 500 businesses 100 are up and running.
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.
Most homes on Sanibel and Captiva islands are still standing, but appear to have sustained some form of roof damage, in addition to certain storm surge and flooding damage. Near the Casa Ybel Beach Resort, large scars in the sands are seen – the surge eroded much of the beach and dunes.
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.
The Sanibel Causeway was reopened October 19. Now attention turns to permanent repairs. Superior Construction For the temporary repairs, the focus was on hauling in and dredging back dirt to rebuild the breached causeway islands and then pouring asphalt to restore the road.
The FEMA 50% rule is a minimum requirement for participation in the NFIP. It limits the cost of improvements (additions, alterations, and/or repairs) to non-conforming structures to less than 50% of the “market value” of structure prior to the start of work.
The FEMA 50% rule is a minimum requirement for participation in the NFIP. It limits the cost of improvements (additions, alterations, and/or repairs) to non-conforming structures to less than 50% of the “market value” of structure prior to the start of work.
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.
Monday morning marked another reopening after Hurricane Ian. Sanibel Island is now open to anyone who wants to visit. The reopening comes just a day after the tolls on the Sanibel Causeway were reinstated. Sanibel's recovery progress includes 80% of right-of-way debris being removed from the East Periwinkle Way bridge.