SANIBEL – Sanibel city leaders are on the verge of making a significant decision regarding a major intersection on the island.
The focus is the crossing of Periwinkle Way and Causeway Boulevard, a crucial gateway for drivers coming on or off Sanibel.
This intersection functions as a four-way stop with right turn yields. During peak times, traffic often backs up in all directions. Residents frequently experience these delays.
Sharol Daltrui, a Sanibel resident, shared her observations on when traffic congestion is at its worst.
“It’s usually in the mornings, when they’re coming in, people are coming for the day, and workers are coming in for the day. And it’s usually in the afternoon, starting at about three,” said Daltrui.
Engineers have studied the intersection and concluded that a roundabout would be the best long-term solution to improve traffic flow. However, in early 2025, city council postponed funding for the design to explore the possibility of adding more lanes to the Sanibel Causeway. This idea was later deemed unfeasible, bringing the roundabout back into consideration.
Tom Daltrui, another Sanibel resident, expressed his concerns about the proposed roundabout.
“I’m not a fan of the traffic, but I don’t think it will solve the problem right now. With the guard, there’s one person making the decision. With a roundabout, there’s four people making a decision, and I don’t think that’s a good idea,” said Daltrui.
Lee County’s Metropolitan Planning Organization is offering a grant to fund 30% of the design, which would transition the roundabout from a concept into a detailed plan. While some residents disagree with the change, others are open to the idea.
“I would say, let’s try it,” said Wally Dudun, another Sanibel resident.
The city council is set to decide on Tuesday whether to accept the grant for the next phase of design. If approved, the roundabout project will move forward.