FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FORT
MYERS, Fla. (January 16,
2003) – The following is update information on the closure of the middle
Sanibel Causeway Bridge this coming weekend:
FOR MEDIA
Photos and footage of the repairs can be taken by air, water (as long
as boat doesn’t get too close) or at the barricades to the construction
site on either side of the middle bridge.
The best viewing from land probably will be along the barricade
closest to the first causeway island after the drawbridge (mainland side).
Paul Wingard, Deputy Transportation Director, will be at that staging
area along the drawbridge side causeway island barricade from 10 p.m. to 11
p.m. Sunday night to answer media questions.
Replacement beams and materials are expected to arrive by truck late
Saturday night to the site. For
photos of the trucks actually arriving, you’d have to wait around Saturday
night. For photos of all the
materials staged, Sunday morning would be better.
We’ll contact the media as soon as the bridge reopens if it reopens early.
FOR PUBLIC
Sanibel Causeway Bridge tolls will be suspended upon closure of the
bridge at 10 p.m. Sunday, but will be reinstated once the repairs are done
and bridge opens, even if that is earlier than anticipated
There will be a Florida Highway Patrol officer stationed at the toll
plaza to direct traffic.
County DOT will have a message board near the toll plaza explaining
the causeway is closed.
After repairs, speed across the causeway bridges will return to 35
mph.
After repairs, as before, the POSTED WEIGHT LIMIT for the bridge is 34 TONS.