Sanibel leaders to vote on grant for traffic improvements at busy intersection

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

Sanibel leaders are set to vote on whether to accept a $160,000 grant to explore design changes to alleviate traffic congestion at the intersection of Periwinkle Way and Causeway Boulevard.

People who travel the island told Gulf Coast News it's a known bottleneck for drivers and bicyclists on the island.

"It's always been very, very busy," said Robert Wenner. "The intersection itself is obviously very congested, you know, during the peak season and during rush hour coming on the island."

Jim Meyer, another local, added, "From approximately now, January, to May, it is a bottleneck every afternoon."

The intersection serves as the gateway to the island, with a traffic flagger greeting visitors after the bridge. The grant aims to design changes to improve traffic flow, but it is not a guarantee of implementation.

Eric Jackson, the city of Sanibel's public information officer, explained, "It's just looking at it now, taking a much closer look. So, looking at surveys now instead of just an overview of it."

This issue has been discussed before. In 2024, a contractor studied the area and recommended a roundabout as the best solution, but the idea was put on hold after discussions about adding a lane to the causeway.

Jackson noted, "It was determined that the causeway isn't wide enough to stripe it and add that lane. So now we're back to council to look at the intersection again since it's been paused."

Residents have mixed opinions on potential solutions. Wenner said, "I don't think I'm much in favor of a traffic light. I think that would probably not help at all. I mean, I'm no expert, but I would say that would be my least favorable thing. I would think a double-lane roundabout would be the most logical option at this point."

Meyer expressed skepticism about a roundabout's effectiveness, saying, "I love roundabouts, but I don't think it's going to work on Sanibel because all the traffic is going to the same place and that's across the bridge. Until we redo that bridge, which is probably never right now, I don't see a solution to the traffic."

Sanibel leaders will vote on whether to accept the grant for improvement designs at their meeting tomorrow.

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