Hurricane Ian ravages Sanibel Causeway, other Florida infrastructure

Abstract

The record 150-mph winds and towering waves wiped out whole sections of the Sanibel Causeway in Lee County and hit other infrastructure across the state. Damage to the 12-mile causeway severed the only connection to the mainland for Sanibel and Captiva Islands. The causeway, which opened in 1963, spans the San Carlos Bay and consists of three two-lane bridge spans with artificial islands between them. In Punta Gorda. The Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport sustained damage to its roof. The state is starting to pick up the pieces. A Florida power outage tracker showed nearly 2 million residents were without electricity as of Friday morning. Nearly 2 million people throughout the state were without power as ofFriday morning.