Sanibel Causeway reopens for truck convoy; open to civilians on Oct. 21

Writer: Melissa Montoya
Published: Updated:
(CREDIT: Facebook screenshot)

A convoy of trucks crossed the Sanibel Causeway on Tuesday afternoon as Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the causeway would be open for that traffic.

DeSantis said the causeway will be open for civilian use on Oct. 21.

The trucks began to travel across the causeway ahead of schedule, DeSantis said, adding that it was supposed to open by 3 p.m.

“Once the convoy goes across they have to continue some of the repairs,” DeSantis said. “It is not going to be ready to have full-time civilian traffic.”

About 200 bucket trucks and two tractor trailers and many others were part of the convoy.

The trucks will help restore the power on the island and work on the infrastructure.

Before the fixes to the causeway, DeSantis said electrical workers and utility workers were airlifted onto Sanibel to try to get work done on utilities.

“You can only helicopter and barge so many people and so much equipment,” DeSantis said. “So we were looking at ways, how can we have more people.”

Once the convoy crossed the bridge, repairs would continue on the causeway to prepare it for civilians, he said.

The causeway suffered damage in three areas after Ian made its way through Southwest Florida.

DeSantis was joined by Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie and Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue.

The press conference the Punta Rassa condominiums began at 12:30 p.m.

Watch in the player below or by clicking the link.

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