FDOT Emergency Travel Alert: For information on the current situation, please visit the following
page - 
451936-2 Hurricane Ian Sanibel Island Access
Project Details
About
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.
Public Involvement
Contact Information
| Communications Team |
|---|
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Jennifer Dorning
239-338-7723
Jennifer.Dorning@dot.state.fl.us
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| For Media Inquiries Only |
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fdot-d1comm@dot.state.fl.us
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RoadWatch
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Sanibel Causeway Emergency Restoration: Crews have moved traffic to the permanent lanes on the Sanibel Causeway. The causeway islands surrounding the temporary roadway are an active work zone and are currently closed for public access, including from the water.
The following work activities above are scheduled to occur, however unforeseen underground conditions and weather may affect this schedule.East of the Toll Plaza:
Both directions of McGregor Boulevard traffic are shifted to the south side of the road from approximately ½ mile from Shell Point Boulevard to west of Port Comfort Road. Westbound traffic headed to Port Comfort Road may continue straight to turn right to Port Comfort Road. This shift is necessary for the contractor to reconstruct the underground pipe crossing under the north side of the road. McGregor Boulevard is scheduled to remain REDUCED TO ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTON through early 2025.
The eastbound (south/beach side) shoulder on McGregor Boulevard remains FULLY CLOSED TO ACCESS. Crews have installed underground devices (marine mattresses) to reinforce the shoreline and are scheduled to finalize shoulder work by late November 2024.
Motorists should expect temporary daytime lane closures on McGregor Boulevard, both eastbound and westbound from Shell Point Boulevard to Punta Rassa Road for crews to move equipment and materials as necessary.
West of the Toll Plaza:
Lee County is installing a post & rope system to temporarily delineate pedestrian traffic on the causeway islands during the upcoming recreational facility reconstruction.
Motorists should expect traffic to be intermittently stopped at the staging area entrance as equipment crosses the road with materials for work on the south side of McGregor Boulevard and on the south side of the toll plaza.
Crews are scheduled to drive sheet pile on the south side of the road by the toll plaza late next week. Crews are currently placing armor stone in this area.
Crews are scheduled to begin installing sod for roadway stabilization and pond construction in the coming weeks. Earthwork (grading) and debris removal continues along the causeway islands. Please expect construction equipment periodically entering/leaving the travel lanes when necessary. The contractor is limiting this interruption during peak hours.
The westbound merge location is now west of the toll plaza. Motorists are urged to use caution and obey the 20 MPH speed limit. Construction vehicles and equipment continue to enter/exit the staging area near this location.
Crews continue work in the area of the off-island U-turn under Span A.
Many oversized vehicles are crossing the causeway to assist with recovery efforts on the island. Please be patient as travel may be slower than usual. Bicyclists are encouraged to utilize another mode of transportation to travel the causeway and pedestrians are not permitted on the Sanibel Causeway. MOTORISTS ARE REMINDED TO OBEY THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 20 MPH THROUGHOUT THE WORK ZONE.
