Guest commentary: Construction on Sanibel Causeway
Sanibel is founded on several shared values. One of those shared values is community — “Sanibel is and shall remain a small town community whose members choose to live in harmony with one another and with nature, creating a human settlement distinguished by its diversity, beauty, uniqueness, character and stewardship.”
Without question, Hurricane Ian has posed many challenges to our community since the powerful storm made landfall on this sanctuary island in September 2022. Collectively, however, Sanibel’s residents, businesses, visitors, employees, and contractors have worked hand-in-hand to overcome the physical, emotional, spiritual, personal, and structural losses this community has endured. While the recovery for some is further along than others, together, those who live, work, and recreate on Sanibel have been steadfast in fostering the slow but steady recovery efforts.
One of the most significant challenges Ian inflicted on Sanibel, has been the reconstruction of the Sanibel Causeway. Much has been accomplished on this critical connection between Sanibel and Captiva, and the mainland of Lee County.
Immediately following the storm, Gov. Ron DeSantis committed that the causeway would be reconstructed with temporary repairs to ensure traffic could flow to and from Sanibel and Captiva while long-term and permanent repairs were undertaken. The state, through the Florida Department of Transportation, has been successful in rebuilding the causeway in record time. As the FDOT has worked to reach substantial completion of the roadway in recent weeks, lane closures have been required daily. These lane closures are necessary to mostly complete the travel lanes and provide more predictable drive times on the causeway by the end of 2023. The resulting effect is congestion on the mainland side of the causeway in the morning hours and congestion on Sanibel during the evening hours.
While the travel time between the island and the mainland has taken more than an hour and sometimes more in recent days, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. As it stood as of Dec. 21, the FDOT expected two, 12-foot travel lanes to be open by the end of Dec. 22.
As frustration builds among residents and commuters, tempers have gotten the best of some people and they have displayed this anger toward each other, toward the city’s traffic aides and Sanibel’s police officers. This behavior is not acceptable, and regardless of our individual level of frustration, I ask that you all remain patient as the FDOT completes its work over the next few days.
Please remember that Ian is the cause of the traffic problems we face. The FDOT staff and contractors performing the construction on the causeway and the police personnel working to manage the traffic congestion on Sanibel are performing their jobs under very difficult circumstances. They are people who deserve our appreciation for their efforts and should not be subject to outbursts of anger and dangerous behaviors. Those who violate traffic laws will be cited. Those who threaten police personnel will face possible arrest.
Sanibel is a community where people live and work in harmony with each other — and this island settlement has a long history of lifting each other up to overcome adversities. As you travel to and from Sanibel in the upcoming days, please understand there is the potential for significant travel delays and be patient.
If you can leave Sanibel or Captiva early to avoid the evening rush hour traffic, please do so. If you need to be off island for a time specific, please be sure to plan your departure time accordingly. Apple, Google, and Waze GPS mapping systems can provide you with good information on travel time to and from Sanibel. Please consider downloading the Sanibel Bound mobile app on your smart phone too as it will provide you with live camera views of traffic at key intersections on the island. You may also access Sanibel Bound on your computer by visiting https://www.mysanibel.com/live-street-cams.
While I cannot provide an absolute guarantee that the traffic congestion will return to pre-storm conditions in January, I do feel confident that the impacts from causeway roadwork will be lessened.
I wish you and your families the very best this holiday season.
Dana Souza is the city manager for the city of Sanibel.