How Contractors Rapidly Reopened Sanibel Causeway After Hurricane Ian (Video) Superior Construction in a joint venture with de Moya Group completed emergency repairs of the Sanibel Causeway in 15 days following Hurricane Ian. Superior Construction is no stranger to emergency road and bridge work.

Following the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian in late September 2022, the Sanibel Causeway—which had three sections completely washed away—was reopened to emergency and utility vehicles in a record-breaking 15 days. This "miracle" of engineering was achieved through a massive 24/7 mobilization by the Florida Department of Transportation and private contractors, who moved over 8,000 tons of rock and 2,400 tons of asphalt to create a temporary bridge. The causeway was opened to the general public and residents on October 19, 2022, just three weeks after the storm. While this initial reopening used temporary "sheet pile" walls and gravel, the permanent, high-resilience reconstruction continued for years. As of May 1, 2025, the Causeway Islands Park and the fully completed permanent bridge structures were officially finished, featuring enhanced "armored" shorelines designed to withstand future storm surges of the magnitude seen during Ian.

Excellent question. The reopening of the Sanibel Causeway was a landmark event in the recovery from Hurricane Ian.

Here’s a detailed timeline:

Short Answer:

It took 14 days to restore temporary vehicle access to Sanibel Island via the causeway.

Detailed Timeline:

• Hurricane Ian Makes Landfall: Wednesday, September 28, 2022. The Category 4 hurricane completely destroyed multiple sections of the 3-mile-long causeway, severing the only road link to Sanibel Island.
• Emergency Assessment & Contract Award: Within 24 hours, Florida’s Department of Transportation (FDOT) had engineers on-site. By October 2, they had awarded a $50 million emergency contract to a joint venture of PCC Construction and The De Moya Group.
• Round-the-Clock Construction: Crews worked 24/7, using barges and cranes to place massive rocks and prefabricated bridge sections. They filled in the washed-out sections of the causeway and repaired the damaged bridge spans.
• Temporary Reopening: The causeway was officially reopened to limited vehicle traffic (for essential personnel, recovery workers, and residents) on Wednesday, October 12, 2022. This was just 14 days after the storm hit.
• Permanent Repairs: The temporary fix was a “road on top of rocks.” Permanent bridge repairs continued for many months afterward. The final, fully reconstructed Sanibel Causeway, built to modern standards and greater resilience, was officially completed and opened to all traffic on April 12, 2023.

Key Context:

The 14-day reopening was considered an extraordinary engineering feat. It was crucial for allowing residents to return, recovery crews to bring in heavy equipment, and critical supplies to reach the island. The speed was a result of: An immediate state of emergency declaration. Pre-negotiated emergency contracts. Unprecedented coordination between state agencies, the governor’s office, and the Army Corps of Engineers. Round-the-clock work by hundreds of construction workers.

In summary: 14 days for a temporary, critical-access roadway, and about 6.5 months for the complete, permanent reconstruction of the Sanibel Causeway.