Sanibel causeway restoration progressing 18 months after Hurricane Ian. What to know
Until it is completely restored, the Sanibel Island Causeway will remain a strong presence on the post-Hurricane Ian radar screen.
It's now been more than a year and half since Hurricane Ian slammed Southwest Florida on Sept. 28, 2022. Residents and visitors alike have high interest in the improving "health" of one of this region's most-traveled stretches of road, portions of which were washed away by the historic and powerful Category 4 storm's surge.
Remarkably, after undergoing emergency repairs, the 3-mile long causeway that connects Sanibel to the Lee County mainland at Punta Rassa reopened to trucks on Oct. 11, 2022, and reopened to all vehicular traffic on Oct. 20, 2022.
The News-Press reached out to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to get a progress report on the restoration efforts.
What to know: Sanibel Island, Florida, causeway restoration progress
According to FDOT, these are the key milestones of the project since the restoration started:
Permanent roadway configuration completed including a new, two-foot higher profile and the addition of roadway shoulders.
95% completion of all sheet pile installation
75% completion of roadway drainage system
50% completion of armor stone installation
25% completion of marine mattress installation
What to know: Restoration milestones ahead for the Sanibel Island, Florida, causeway
According to FDOT, these are milestones still to be achieved:
completion of the resiliency features
construction of return lane to the island
restoration of the Punta Rassa staging area
Complete restoration of Lee County’s Causeway Islands Park and Punta Rassa Boat Ramp for reopening to the public (Lee County projects)
The entire restoration project is expected to be completed in 2027.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Is the sanibel island florida causeway construction finished
