by SC Features Writer Reanna Haase
Since Hurricane Ian swept away the Causeway Islands, taking the roadway with them, the Florida Department of Transportation has been racing to restore this vital link to Sanibel Island as a better version. FDOT aims to fortify the Sanibel Causeway against future Ian-like storms.
“The bridge now stands as a fortress against nature’s fury,” said Janella Newsome, FDOT District One Director of Public Information. “This engineering marvel not only safeguards the island’s connection to the mainland but also brings a new life into the local economy. Ensuring that tourism and beachside beauty will continue to thrive for generations to come.”
Newsome said the changes to the structure are a part of the original plan for permanent repairs. The project was initially estimated to take five years, but now FDOT expects it to be completed in nearly half that time. The west side of the toll plaza is expected to be completed in late spring, followed by the east side, which is estimated to be completed in summer.
Improvements made to ensure the causeway’s resilience include raising the road surface by 2 feet, installing marine mattresses to absorb wave energy and storm surge, retaining walls to protect the sides of the bridges, and several layers of sheet pile walls, each completed with a concrete cap to protect the causeway island’s roadway.
One of the most notable enhancements is the replacement of the original limestone armor stones, designed to protect the bridge abutments, with approximately 120,000 tons of granite armor stones.
“Before, we used limestone, but engineers decided to use granite armor stones this time. Why? Because they’re more dense, therefore, they’re going to help with the resiliency, particularly when there’s a storm surge,” Newsome said.
As FDOT nears the finish line, Lee County Parks and Recreation has started the restoration of the popular Causeway Island Parks A and B, two artificial islands in San Carlos Bay. Lee County will break the project into two phases, with the first phase being completed this summer.
Upon completion of the first phase, visitors will have access to over 800 designated parking spaces among islands A and B, portable toilets, and trash and recycling bins, according to Lee County.
The county designed the initial phase to provide access to these much-used island parks and to combat erosion from the “free-for-all” parking of the past, Assistant County Manager Christine Bradley said on Thursday, Feb. 13, at a Tourist Development Council meeting.
The organized parking is intended to provide a more enjoyable experience for the visitors and rangers who enforce the park’s rules. Deputy Director of Lee County Parks and Recreation Kathleen Loomis said enforcement was difficult in the past.
“FDOT, Lee County DOT, Lee County Facilities, and our Parks and Rec staff are working hard to try to get the islands open as soon as possible,” said Director of Parks and Recreation Mack Young. “Because I know it’s a highly anticipated area that we’re trying to get done in a timely manner.”
Lee County plans to begin the causeway parks project’s second phase in the second quarter of 2026, addressing long-term improvements.
The second phase will include rebuilding and redeveloping the islands, for which design plans are underway, but the county will continue making changes to the long-term plan, Bradley said at the TDC meeting.
The county expects to complete the second phase in 2027.
Causeway “parks” look like a cemetery
Nothing natural about them anymore
The islands were an easy way for older people to enjoy the waters edge and sunset views by being able to park right where they wanted to put out chairs. Now they will have drag their cars from a parking lot. It wasn’t a “free for all” but a freedom. Now the city will charge people and make it less convenient for families to picnic and elderly to enjoy. Turn paradise into a parking lot.