Contract Awarded to Repair Sanibel Causeway Bridge, DeSantis Wants it a Priority

TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – The contract for the Sanibel Causeway bridge repair was awarded as Gov. Ron DeSantis directed the Florida Department of Transportation to prioritize the project.

“FDOT has already made tremendous progress on the temporary bridge to Pine Island,” DeSantis said. “Now, I’ve asked them to work with Lee County to immediately begin work to provide temporary access and begin repairs to the Sanibel Causeway. Access to our barrier islands is a priority for our first responders and emergency services who have been working day and night to bring relief to all Floridians affected by Hurricane Ian.”

FDOT expects the bridge will be accessible by the end of October. The repairs will help first responders and Sanibel residents access the island. It will also allow for power restoration projects and debris removal.

“FDOT is proud to play a part in restoring our communities across the state. The Pine Island bridge is well on its way for completion. I’m confident we can provide the same level of service for the Sanibel Island community,” said Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E.

“Much like Pine Island, the Sanibel Causeway was affected when the land that the road was built on was washed away. A bridge stability analysis will be performed, and repairs needed range from repairing bridge approaches to restoring the roadway across most of the causeway. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Lee County and helping them take another step towards recovery.”

Construction for a temporary bridge to Pine Island has already began and is expected to be complete this week. More than 130 FDOT trucks were deployed to the island Tuesday.

“They’re offering evacuations for those residents, but most of them want to be on the island. They just want to be able to go back and forth,” DeSantis said. “So we’re going to be able to do that.”