FORT
MYERS, Fla. (January 10,
2003) – Lee County will close the Sanibel Causeway to ALL traffic from about 9
p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19 to 6 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21 for permanent repairs to the
middle bridge.
That means it will
be closed for the duration of Monday, which is the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Holiday. Residents and visitors still will be allowed through the toll
plaza to visit the first Causeway Island (A) and can come from Sanibel to
Causeway Island (B) nearest Sanibel.
The timing of this
closure was decided upon after careful consultation and consideration was given
to coming up with a plan that has the least disruption and inconvenience for
residents and visitors – while recognizing this can’t be done without
closing the bridge.
The closure is
required to replace the cracked beams on the middle bridge.
The replacement
will require the bridge deck to be sawed through, lifted, and the cracked beams
replaced with steel girders.
A temporary
reinforcement of the cracked beams was completed today and all vehicles up to
the 34-ton weight restriction can pass across the middle bridge at 20 mph.
The speed restriction is in place until the permanent repairs are
completed.
During the closure
next weekend, the Lee County EMS helicopter will be on standby to take emergency
patients off the island.
For more information, watch for updates at www.lee-county.com.