Pine Island Bridge Construction Delays Push Completion to Spring 2025

The first phase of the Little Pine Island Bridge project will now drag on until spring, state officials announced. The delay impacts the sole access road to Pine Island.

Additional work crews are now pulling night shifts on the single-lane bridge project that kicked off last June. Traffic backs up for miles during busy times, turning quick drives into lengthy delays.

Cindee Tolliver's December earnings plummeted. "It's just like a punch to the gut," Tolliver told Gulf Coast News Now. "We've had the worst December. The last time I made as much money as I made in December of this past year, it was '97. So that's how far back this has pushed my business." 

This downturn affects everyone on the island, from hotels to fishing guides.

Some residents try to stay positive about their longer drives. "That's why it's a good opportunity to listen to an audiobook, a podcast, music you haven't heard since the 90s. It's a moment to take a breath and take a stop." Emily Pancoast, general manager of The Perfect Cup, told Gulf Coast News Now.

Despite the hassles, tourists haven't given up. Jane McLain shared with Gulf Coast News Now, "The traffic is a little bad right now, but it's well worth it. We like coming here for the shopping and the privacy, and it's more affordable than somewhere like Sanibel."

At a crowded town meeting, transportation officials got an earful from upset locals. They emphasized their commitment to quality work while trying to speed things up.