FDOT is proud of the work we have accomplished to restore access to Sanibel Island to first responders, residents, and visitors and we look forward to continuing our work until substantial roadway completion, which is anticipated in late 2023.
People Also Ask
Sanibel Causeway Emergency Restoration: As a part of the Florida Department of Transportation's (FDOT) Emergency Restoration of the Sanibel Causeway, crews continue work on McGregor Boulevard and the Sanibel Causeway from Port Comfort Road to Sanibel Island.
— 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.
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.
Sanibel Causeway reopens for residents and businesses, with a permanent fix still in the works. An 11 a.m. opening of the rebuilt causeway that links the island and the mainland was announced by Gov. Ron DeSantis at a briefing at the base of the first bridge segment.
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.
For now, many homes in that once-tranquil island community are not livable, Sanibel Fire Chief William Briscoe said previously, also noting many homes are off their foundations and alligators and snakes are present across the island.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
There's a $4 charge to drive over the bridge...that's reasonable. We drove down from Ocala to take my niece Janelle out for her birthday lunch in Fort Myers. After lunch Janelle drove us over the causeway to see Sanibel Island.