A temporary bridge is in place for Pine Island, Fla., after state officials mobilized crews to restore mainland access to barrier islands cut off when Hurricane Ian washed away roads and bridges last month. President Joe Biden (D) joined Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Oct. 5 in touring the hardest-hit parts of the state, with the governor announcing the five-day emergency Pine Island project and plans to finish repair of the causeway to Sanibel Island by the end of October.
Once immediate recovery efforts have subsided, permanent long-term repairs will be made to the causeway, with temporary access work to be incorporated, says the Florida Dept. of Transportation. All accessible state-owned bridges have been inspected with personnel now moving to assist with locally owned bridge inspections.