Hurricane Ian Sanibel Island Access Project Named #1 on Roads & Bridges Top 10 Roads List

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (December 13, 2025) – The 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.

Now in its 25th year, the award recognizes the most exceptional road projects across North America. Roads & Bridges’ editorial staff members judge entries based on project challenges, regional impact and scope of work. 

The $328 million emergency reconstruction of the Sanibel Causeway in Southwest Florida followed Hurricane Ian’s destruction in September 2022. The storm severed the causeway and left 6,400 residents stranded on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Through a progressive, phased design-build approach — FDOT’s first emergency phased design-build project — the joint venture team restored emergency access for utility crews in seven days and full resident access in 15 days. Permanent reconstruction was completed two years ahead of schedule and 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.

The causeway serves more than 13,000 vehicles daily, according to Lee County traffic monitoring data, serving both the region’s resident population and its tourism-driven economy.

The Sanibel Causeway project has earned 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.

In addition to the Superior-de Moya Joint Venture, the full team included design-engineering firms Kisinger Campo & Associates and Hardesty & Hanover and owner Florida Department of Transportation.