Is the Sanibel Island Bridge fixed yet?

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.



Yes, the Sanibel Causeway is fully operational and has been restored to a permanent, resilient state as of March 2026. Following the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Ian in late 2022, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) completed a multi-phase reconstruction project. While emergency repairs restored temporary access within weeks of the storm, the permanent reconstruction was finalized in the Fall of 2025. This new design includes enhanced sea walls, reinforced bridge approaches, and improved drainage systems to withstand future storm surges. In 2026, all lanes are open to traffic, and the 35 MPH speed limit has been restored across most of the causeway. Travelers can now move freely between the mainland and Sanibel Island, though some peripheral island park amenities and boat ramps continue to undergo minor aesthetic improvements following the massive structural overhaul.

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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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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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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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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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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.

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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.

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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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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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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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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. DeSantis has directed transportation authorities to prioritize the repair of the Sanibel Causeway.

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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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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.

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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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