No one imagined this was feasible. Every expert put the timeline for repair at around a year. However, the git r’ done crews and the Florida Dept of Transportation have accomplished a massive feat of reconstruction in phenomenal time. Major kudos to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the construction crews who worked every hour of every day, day and night, for two straight weeks and have created/built a temporary bridge to Sanibel Island. [Videos below]
Trust me, having seen the aftermath, this is absolutely remarkable. The causeway is made up of three bridge spans (A, B, and C) and three spoil islands.
The rapid response construction crews just kept bringing truck after truck of everything imaginable including rocks, concrete slabs, gravel, sand and more to fill in the missing parts of the roadway and spoil islands. Then they surfaced the road and are now working on paving it in record time. Today restoration emergency crews drove across the bridges, and they anticipate opening the causeway to residents of Sanibel for civilian use on October 21st. WATCH:
Today the construction crews moved aside to allow, over 200 bucket trucks, 150 electric line and pickup trucks (LCEC, FP&L, Duke Energy) towing 50 trailers and two tractor-trailers carrying first responders to the island.
Additionally, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was on the Fort Myers side of the bridge to celebrate the accomplishment at a press conference. WATCH:
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FORT MYERS, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that temporary repairs to the Sanibel Causeway will allow a one-time convoy of power restoration equipment, supplies, and crews to access Sanibel Island and continue restoration efforts. Once crews are on the island, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will resume repairs to restore access to the island for residents, which is expected to be complete by the end of this month.
The temporary repairs to the bridge will allow over 200 bucket trucks, 150 line and pickup trucks towing 50 trailers and 2 tractor trailers to move onto the island, along with additional first responders to cross the bridge and aid in recovery efforts while final road repairs are underway. This includes crews from across the state, Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC), Florida Power and Light and members of the Florida Electric Cooperative Association.
Last week, at Governor DeSantis’ direction, barges began to deploy to move equipment and supplies to Sanibel Island to restore power and ensure wraparound services like running water are available as quickly as possible. Barges continue to move daily to transport equipment, personnel, and supplies to support recovery operations.
Efforts to restore power to Pine Island are also underway. Last week, the Governor announced that FDOT had established a temporary bridge to Pine Island in less than three days, allowing power restoration crews to access the island and begin repairs. Led by Duke Energy and LCEC, crews have begun to clear debris, lay new lines and replace power poles. By Thursday, LCEC expects to have power restored to one quarter of Pine Island, including the Island’s center, water treatment plant substation and to centrally located grocery stores. Power is expected to be restored to one third of the island and the Matlacha area by next week. (LINK)
Damage on September 30th:
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Repairs as of 10/10/22:
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Trucks arriving 10/11/22:
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Governor DeSantis said leaders started brainstorming different ways more trucks and equipment could be brought to the island other than helicopters and barges. But in the end, different ideas weren’t necessary because the temporary causeway repairs will allow a one-time convoy to cross onto the island.
During a news conference Tuesday in Fort Myers, trucks were seen slowly driving across the bridge — beginning the journey to the island on the Sanibel Causeway.
“Ahead of schedule, it was supposed to be 3 o’clock today they thought they’d get it,” the governor said. “But we’re happy that is something that is being done.”
DeSantis explains the convoy now able to travel on Sanibel Island is a large group, including:
- 200 bucket trucks
- 150 line and pickup trucks towing 50 trailers
- Two tractor trailers
- First responders
This also includes crews from across the state, Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC), Florida Power and Light and members of the Florida Electric Cooperative Association.
After crews reach the island, the Florida Department of Transportation will be able to continue with repairs to restore access to the island for residents.
This isn’t the first time relief made its way to the island. DeSantis said barges were deployed last week to move equipment and supplies to the area to restore power and running water. The governor’s office says barges continue to move daily to transport equipment, personnel and supplies. [Media Link]
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis visited Fort Myers to give updates on recovery efforts and announce that temporary repairs to the Sanibel Causeway will allow a one-time convoy of power restoration equipment, supplies and crews temporary access to Sanibel Island for power restoration efforts. Once crews are on the island, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will resume repairs to restore access to the island for residents, which is expected to be complete by the end of this month. Full remarks can be found here.
There are currently 19,362 reported power outages. In Lee and Collier counties, there are only 1,000 accounts on the mainland that remain without power that can receive it. More than 42,000 linemen have already restored power to over 2.6 million accounts across the state, representing over 99% of accounts restored since the peak.
Yesterday, Governor DeSantis announced that $2.5 million in loans have been awarded to 55 businesses through the Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to help those impacted by Hurricane Ian. Additionally, $126 million will be going to 24 communities across the Panhandle that are continuing to rebuild and strengthen after Hurricane Michael made landfall 4 years ago.
First Lady Casey DeSantis announced that the Florida Disaster Fund has raised nearly $40 million since activation. To read more info, click here. To contribute, please visit www.FloridaDisasterFund.org or text DISASTER to 20222. (read more)
Watch the short video below to see what is happening to restore power on Pine Island:
American can do spirit. That’s not dead. Well done all who made it happen!!
Awesome! Great news!
The backbone of our America rebuilt that bridge, Aggiegirl.
And I bet it really was Built Back Better😉
Why do you think the MSM is suddenly pro-white rights? One reason is because they can’t build back better without whites, especially white men. It’s not spontaneous, nor innocent or ‘democratic.’ It’s calculated.
Sorry, I don’t see the MSM being favorable to white people. They just ignore white people unless a white person commits mass murders & fits their projection of white supremacy. You will not see the successes of Gov. DeSantis or all the people who went to help in the disaster.
TBS, kudos to all who are helping Florida. You make this old lady proud to see the American formula for success working–coming together to help those in need. Gov. DeSantis, YOU ROCK!! And your wife is awesome!!
R-CANs vs. D-RATs. I know which one I will be voting for..
Yes indeed, this is wonderful news. It strikes me how starved we are for news that reminds us of American pride. We’re barraged every damn day with so much crap. But on this day we have that good ol’ American swagger.
We do indeed, DD. I’d forgotten how good it feels.
Wow, very impressive and inspiring! God bless y’all.
I congratulate the workmen and engineers. Politicians aren’t really useful like them.
Yes, politicians are very good with their press conferences taking credit
Haha. I thought the parade of vehicles in the background was, shall we say, interesting.
The Democrats could not even unload cargo ships in nice weather in california.
The contrast is stunning!!
Red state vs. blue state
“The trucking issue with California LA ports, i.e. the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) and the Port of Long Beach (POLB), is that all semi tractors have to be current with new California emissions standards.
As a consequence, that means trucks cannot be older than 3 years if they are to pick up or deliver containers at those ports.
This issue wipes out approximately half of the fleet trucks used to move containers in/out of the port.
Operating the port 24/7 will not cure the issue, because all it does is pile up more containers that sit idle as they await a limited number of trucks to pick them up.
THIS is the central issue.”
Nope. The central issue is the California legislature WILL NOT amend legislation to reduce the crisis.
40 years ago the legislature invoked special gas mixtures to alleviate pollution. Those rules are still in effect though vehicles have catalytic converters, fuel injection, engine computers that minimize fuel delivery and spark plugs that burn almost all the fuel in combustion.
There’s no need for the blended fuel, it reduces mileage and responsible for the highest fuel cost in the country.
Thats what separated President Trump from every other two-bit politician in DC. He knows how to actually get things built, but they only know how to shovel BS and make themselves rich on the taxpayer’s back..
saw a declaration of what government is that is so fitting to today’s DC…….government tries to make one group happy by taking away from another group
Wow, Wow and Wow!
Super cool, beyond fabulous, what other words are there to say?
Wow!
That’s how you get ‘er done!
I just wanted to point out your error … it’s “git”. 🙂
hahaha yes, “yer” right! 😀
Larry “the Cableguy” from down home GA
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. 🙏
That is simply amazing and shows you what America is still capable of.
(unfortunately auto-correct isn’t one of them we’ve perfected yet)
Absolutely amazing. Meanwhile in third world Chicago, they can’t even resurface streets correctly. Not enough asphalt laid down, sewer drains dangerously sticking out because the asphalt isn’t flush with the tops…
I would hazard a guess that there were a few current and/or former members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers involved. They have a history of this kind of work.
Very good point. Although the Army Corps of Engineers often hires private contractors, and as for members I suspect ‘former’ is the key word. I’m not an expert here, though.
The Army Corps has a very bad name in Okaloosa County, FL after their idiocy in trying to repair what Eloise destroyed on Santa Rosa Island in 1975.
They aren’t ‘all that.’
Nope, they ain’t. Look at the Kissimmee River.
Seebees
SeaBees
Fantastic News! One thing that bothers me is I will wager the house payment that Floridians bet more than $40 Million digitally on Sportsball over the weekend.
That would probably be a different group of Floridians.
Clearly not these folks. In my mind that fund should be well north of $100 Million.
Sportsball? You in Salty’s Army?
I picked that up from a Treeper. Although I hear SC, is pretty good.
Convoys of utility trucks sometimes make me cry.
And it wouldn’t surprise me if some of the Men at Work driving those trucks were shedding some tears, too: intended (and astounding) results achieved by 24/7 exhausted people might make that happen.
Wow.
Grateful and humbled by the dedication to service.
Effective government! How novel.
Amazing what can be done when the government gets pushed out of the way.
When will the environmental impact studies be performed?
DeSavage waived the permit b.s. for this.
Nov 31, 2922
Great news. And I’ll bet the power crews and construction crews are having the time of their lives.
It’s amazing what can happen when your ‘government’ doesn’t hate you but ‘enables’ what only We the People can do.
There is no problem that We the People, with a legitimate government, cannot solve.
I dig the enthusiasm but our Founders saw We the People as more adversaries of any even ‘legitimate’ government than partners. More were small government types, and further, the drivers of the Revolution absolutely were.
UHHHH…..?????…..small government types of Founding Fathers (FF) would be of a mind by definition of GOVERNMENT is the problem….I do not know where you studied your history but a true reading of PRIMARY source documents would reveal the FFs were educated in government in both its types and failings…THAT is why they designed a UNIQUE form of government at the time that originally returned the power to rule to its owner….We the People
I’m not sure what you’re accusing me of. I totally agree that more of the Founding Fathers saw government itself as a problem, a necessary evil.
Amazing what can be done when politicians, regulators, lawyers, and cronies are pushed out of the way. Congrats FDOT – true heroes!
For all those FSU engineers (hope this is ok)
Wow, wow, WOW! God bless all the amazing workers for getting this done…PATRIOTS, all!
Continuing to pray for you, Sundance, and all the folks who continue to suffer; hoping this remarkable progress will move you all forward toward a speedy restoration. God bless and protect you all!
Reminds me of the chilean miners, trapped miles down, too far to rescue,…
And of the flaming oil wells in the ME, it would takes YEARS to extinguish.
Git outa my way, so I can git her done!
And hold my beer!
President Trump “Never Give Up!” MOTIVATIONAL VIDEO (ORIGINAL) – YouTube
Dutch,
I hope you don’t mind my posting below your comment one of the inspirational “Never Give Up” videos from Stillwater’s daily Presidential Thread posts. Seems fitting.
Thank you for that video. Great to see it and hear it all again!
As a manager, I knew my job was to find out what my people needed, make sure they had it, then get out of the way.
Politicians never learn this.
Gov. DeSantis knows his job in spades. I suspect this is due to his military experience rather than political experience.
He was a lawyer not an actual sailor.
Lulu are you implying JAG officers are not required to go through boot camp and are somehow exempt from the chain of command and military code of conduct?
Geez, just stop..smh
Well, don’t tread on the bridge real hard until the 21st…
But, you get the point.
(This is a real plate sample going online at the DMVs)
Such wonderful news. Now compare that the normal long period of time it takes to build elsewhere these days. Such as the interstate work being done north of here in Baton Rouge. Drive by and no one in sight. Drive by and there are just a couple of workers.
For years.
Jobs program with prevailing wages and recycled campaign contributions, ’nuff said.
It’s a running joke that there are people that have a 20 year career on a 1 mile stretch of I-95 thru Boca Raton.
Ditto 95 in North Las Vegas.
It was under construction when I came to Nevada 14 years ago and still is.
We call it the Harry Reid Memorial Slush Fund.
True story, my parents moved to Jacksonville, Florida in the early 60’s. At that time they were working on the I-95 / I-10 merger. I-10 ends in JAX at the I-95 junction you can go north or south on 95.
That area is constantly being improved. My father used to say “They were working on that interchange when I moved to town and they’ll still be working on it when I’m gone. I’ll never see it finished” I heard that my entire life whenever we traversed that area.
Flash forward to 2004, my father moved into the final stages of ALS, we knew he only had 6 to 8 months to live. However, the 95-10 interchange was complete. Done, no construction in sight. It had been under construction all of my life. I happened through there.
So I rush to my father, huge smile on my face I say “Daddy, you did it! You lived long enough to see the 95 / 10 interchange completed!” I wanted to take him to see it, but he refused. He looked at me and said “Mark my words, inside of a year they’ll tear it all up again”
Daddy was right, I laughed and I cried when the first construction barricades went up. Signs declaring a new improved and safer interchange. That was 2004, it’s still under construction.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Extremely impressive. Thanks for posting this update.
The best is yet to come Sundance. November 8th can’t get here soon enough.
This has to eat into Obama hugging Turncoat Charlie Crist brain.
It’s surely mucking up the MarxMerdia’s Katrina 2.0 narrative.
Awesome!!
Great job. Congrats to all.
That’s impressive. It’s still such a long haul for them to get back to”normal” but this was needed so they could start.
BTW, my cats said no need to say “holy cats” because that’s redundant. We who are their servants all know they are holy.
I’ve had lots of both cats and dogs, and you’re absolutely right. My dog worships me, wishes to know my wishes at every moment, and bears with anything I wish to have happen at any time.
The cats I’ve known and been owned by over the decades? Not so much! They are very capable of the feline tail-swish that is a non-verbal, “Really?……Really??????”
Of all God’s creatures, there is only one that can not be made slave to the leash (at least it is damn difficult anyway), and that is the cat. If man (most of whom can easily enough be made slave to the leash) could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man, but deteriorate the cat.
– Mark Twain
Wow! There is just nothing, indeed nothing that beats competence. And then I look at my own “gooberment” in my beloved Massachusetts and then I see that they cannot even prepare and send out a voter information booklet with election relevant information.
Just like the high speed train in Cali. Oh, wait. Nevermind.
that went from an initial estimate of $33B and 5-8 years to now $110+B and completion in 2035 or beyond……they would need it in the expected completion timeframe because they are outlawing gasoline/diesel out there
I guess alot of Red Tape was cut, and shows you what determination will do.
Libbies’ heads are hurting right now. 🙂
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Just amazing! DeSantis has got a amazing team of people making this happen. It’s going to take time to rebuild, but they’ve got a great start. What a blessing considering the election is around the corner. I hope people are still able to vote in the middle of this recovery.
They’ll vote. Count on it. Probably in even greater number than usual.
What the country can do when it isn’t taken by the Left into racial turmoil, sexual perversion, class warfare and other tactics of the Democrat Party which do nothing but create division. Sanibel and Captiva is one of my favorite areas. Been there numerous times but not recently. Hope they can rebuild.
Read the temperature is close to 90 degrees in Fort Myers.
That is some tough weather to work outside in.
I called FL 80-80 the year I was there……80 degrees and 80% humidity most of the year
Hmm….I wonder how The Gov is with walls…..
Don’t hate me for saying something that’s not entirely positive about DeSantis, but I just watched a video put out by a well-known conservative pundit who claims to be a Trump supporter but says DeSantis is “presidential material” and she’s “all in with DeSantis”.
It’s a lot easier to get good things done when the legislature is on your side. DeSantis is working with a GOP-controlled Florida legislature. I wish Trump could have had as much support from Congress. Trump did so much while being persecuted non-stop by the Dems and the RINOs, imagine what more he could have done if he’d had good support.
Retired Magistrate here: Right now I am just thrilled for the people of Sanibel Island, Pine Island and the other islands that were so heavily damaged by Hurricane Ian. Governor DeSantis is doing a great job organizing his resources and getting the job done.
We don’t know who is running yet for the Republican ticket in 2024. For now I am very impressed by what all these hard working individuals have accomplished in such a short period of time.
That isn’t an Anti-DeSantis comment, just the truth. But, it is still a major accomplishment that most governors couldn’t have pulled off. And you are absolutely correct about what Trump could have done with a Legislature that supported him. Too bad what he had were spinless republicans and RINOs instead.
Excellent 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
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Phenomenal! What uplifting news! Credit where due.
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That just goes to show what us humans can accomplish when you take the BS politics and just concentrate on getting the job done.
all hail the power of toxic masculinity.
that and only that drives construction workers.
Funny. I have a sister who is a dyed in the wool Oprah addicted liberal who was an operator for the phone company (when they still had them).
She found out that the men who climbed the poles made more money than she did and started screaming DISCRIMINATION!!
They crossed trained her to climb pole and do repairs.
She found out that climbing poles in the rain when it’s 18 degrees outside isn’t near as much fun as Oprah told her it would be.
Neither was repairing vandalized phone booths in neighborhoods where she was the only one of her ethnicity for 15 blocks around.
A year later she chose to go back to a warm dry console. (But still continued to cry inequality)
18 degrees and rain is an interesting weather phenomenon.
I’ll concede the point. 🙂
Hail.
It has happened, VibeMan! Granted the stuff freezes pretty quickly after it hits the pavement. 🙂
I Worked Cable install for a SHORT WHILE before the Coast Guard Career by Climbing Poles with Spurs.
Freezing Rain and Slick Poles EQUALS SPLINTERS in Knees / SNAGGED ” NON-RIP ” Jacket Sleeves and Bruises. ( Gust of Wind ” Weather Vane ” Me Loose Off the Pole; used Elbows and Knees to Ride Down the 15 foot Drop )
YOWZA! That being said… !Qué Milagro! What a blessing – a miracle.
Gracias a nuestro todo poderoso Diós, en nombre de Jesucristo Redentor, rezamos.
Thank you to our all Powerful Lord God, in Jesus Name, we pray.
Amen
Ron DeSantis is impressive.
This is not Mayor Pete’s America. Nor is it the America that “Josef Stolen” commandeered.
This is my America, the America that steps up, solves problems, and batters trouble with hard work, ingenuity and bonhomie until it gives way…the America that helps out without sending a bill, the America that says “can do”, “will do”, and “done!” without making political hay.
In a former life I was a bridge platoon commander. This is noteworthy. Note the spacing of trucks limiting the load on the piles. It’s very satisfying coordinating logistics and workers building a bridge.
Would like more information on the logistics moving bridge sections into position.
Bridge was relatively undamaged compared to the washed out approach. Still a massive job and impressive.
When he becomes President again, maybe Trump can put the git r’ done crews to work on securing our southern border.
Their budget can be taken from the DOD’s gargantuan budget as the DOD does nothing to secure our southern border or much of anything else, such as $85 billion in military equipment..
Trump became President because the political establishment thought he was a joke. In effect he slid under the wire of a corrupt political system that handed us our choices.
Once Congress saw how effective he was on trade, repatriation of a trillion dollars invested offshore, and minimizing border access they had to cheat 2020 to rid him of their treachery. Two attempted impeachments and bankrupting anyone who supported him, they finally controlled with the steal.
Should Trump return to campaign ALL stops will be employed to defeat him.
Think about it…FBI and DOJ won’t indict Hunter, Homeland nor ice will close the border, political establishment and corporate funding teeing up DeSanti and Haley, Trump should be wary.
Nary a fed in sight, epic
Best Governor in the country… and he almost didn’t get past Gillum! Thank God Trump went down there and helped push him across the finish line. He doesn’t need the endorsement this time, that’s for sure. Still, it’s weird he doesn’t ask for it this time. Kind of weird treatment for the person who helped put you in that position the first place. Still, thank God he’s there instead of Gillum right now
I’ll ponder Trump and DeSantis could right the country if they decided to join forces
Rome wasn’t built in a day…..
Only because American construction workers weren’t there.
Floridians Making America Great
Hey Porto Puerto Rico forget about Statehood try to become Florida’s 68th Counties
There are probably more Puerto Ricans in Florida than the Island..
There in Florida AND New York…
🤣🤣🤣 That’s really funny, but as a Floridian I’ll pass on Puerto Rico becoming our 68th County.