One amazing achievement on Florida’s west coast could soothe fears for those living on Key Biscayne.
After Hurricane Ian devastated much of the Sanibel Island Causeway and the surrounding coastline on Sept. 28, 2022, residents were left without a safe way in or out.
Quick and dedicated work restored access to 6,400 stranded people on Sanibel and Captiva islands within 15 days (all vehicles were allowed to pass by Oct. 20) and the newly built and improved causeway, with wider enforced side barriers, was completed two years ahead of schedule, serving more than 13,000 vehicles daily.
Now, the $328 million Hurricane Ian Sanibel Island Access Project, delivered by the Superior Construction–The de Moya Group joint venture, has been named the top road project on Roads & Bridges’ 2025 Top 10 Roads list, a 25-year award that recognizes project challenges, regional impact and scope of work.
In the fall of 2022, Key Biscayne Village Manager Steve Williamson led a contingent of local officials who toured that ravaged area not long after Ian battered the touristy region with the white sand beaches.
Sanibel Causeway in September 2022.
“By the time we had gotten out there, probably 45 days after Ian, I’d say, (the causeway) was basically repaired,” Williamson said. “Just to get it back in operation in a couple of weeks … and now, being recognized with an award like this (is admirable).”
On Key Biscayne, there’s always been concern about bridges along the Rickenbacker Causeway possibly being washed out in a major storm that could someday strike South Florida, particularly Biscayne Bay.
An effort like this one, Williamson said, gives hope to Key Biscayne residents that being isolated from mainland Miami perhaps wouldn’t last too long in case of an emergency.
“Every storm is different, every infrastructure damage is different,” he said. “As I’ve seen, Florida responds very quickly, especially when it comes to electricity and critical infrastructure.
“To get out to an island, obviously, a bridge is pretty important. Fingers crossed, we haven’t gotten hit, but if it happens, they are not going to leave us hanging. I can say the response (after other storms) has been pretty good.”
Through a progressive, phased approach, Florida Department of Transportation’s first emergency phased design-build project, the joint venture team restored emergency access to Sanibel for utility crews within seven days.
Williamson said it’s difficult to make comparisons between Key Biscayne and the Sanibel and Captiva islands.
“We’re a Village, where people live (full-time),” he said. “A lot of people on Captiva and Sanibel are vacationers. I would think the urgency will be even more on Key Biscayne. You saw how FDOT jumped on that causeway very quickly.”
A series of photos, titled “From Ruin to Resilience,” depicts how that causeway came back to life in short order, with the completed project done in 2024. Permanent reconstruction even came in under budget.
“I’m incredibly proud of our crews and grateful their work is getting recognized,” said Toby Mazzoni, Area Manager for Superior Construction. “In the days after the storm, every decision centered on how fast we could safely restore access for the community. Everyone understood what was at stake, and the team moved with purpose to reconnect the islands.”
The project established a new model for emergency infrastructure response, incorporating innovative coastal protection systems with armor stone and sheet piling designed to withstand Category 5 hurricanes. Rebuilt sections of the causeway successfully endured three hurricanes during the 2024 season without damage.
Hurricane Ian’s total damage was estimated by NOAA to exceed more than $112 billion, making it the costliest hurricane in Florida’s history and the third most expensive in U.S. history. It also led to 161 fatalities.
The Sanibel Causeway project has earned other multiple national and state awards, including ASCE Florida Section Project of the Year, AASHTO Best Quality of Life/Community Development Project, ENR Southeast Best Regional Highway/Bridge Project, DBIA Florida Region Project of the Year and DBIA National Chairperson’s Award.
Superior Construction is an American family-owned and -operated infrastructure contractor dedicated to providing innovative solutions with industry experts and leaders. The now fourth-generation family business evolved into Superior Construction in 1938.
The de Moya Group, Inc. is a prominent construction company based in Hialeah with a strong presence in various locations across Florida, including Miami, Venice, Naples, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa.