On October 5, 2022, the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) contractors mobilized to complete emergency repairs to the Sanibel Causeway.  After only six days, the project team was able to expedite repairs and lead a convoy of utility restoration teams and equipment across the Sanibel Causeway. On October 19, just three weeks after Hurricane Ian washed away the land and roadway connecting the mainland to Sanibel and Captiva Islands, and a week ahead of schedule, FDOT opened the bridge to first responders, utility crews, contractors and residents. 

Hurricane Ian forever changed the landscape of the Sanibel Causeway, simply because the storm shifted sands from the islands. While we are looking to reconstruct a more resilient design, the goal of the project is to return the Causeway to the pre-storm condition to the maximum extent possible.

The plan entails building the roadway to standards and specifications, constructing permanent bridge approaches, and restoring drainage, lighting, pavement markings, as well as providing access for utility service along the causeway islands. Support will be given to protect the natural environment from corroding shorelines while meeting the community’s needs such as safe recreational areas for residents and visitors to enjoy the beaches.  Please click on the links below listed under Proposed Resiliency Measures in the Project Documents section of this page for more information.

The project team put an extraordinary amount of manpower and materials into the project to ensure all road lanes on the causeway were open for the Christmas holidays in 2023 – 15 months after Hurricane Ian had destroyed access to Sanibel. Every member of this project team took great personal pride in getting the roadway open for the 2023 holidays.

FDOT is proud of the work we have accomplished to restore access to Sanibel Island to first responders, residents, and visitors. Work to restore the causeway and the area east of the toll plaza leading up to the causeway is expected to be completed in mid-2025.  FDOT estimates that at this time the recreational areas of the Punta Rassa Boat Ramp and the Causeway Islands Park will be returned to Lee County to complete the restoration.

Click here to sign up for construction updates.