Caloosahatchee Bridge reopens after needing emergency repairs

There was a sigh relief for many drivers in Lee County when the Caloosahatchee Bridge reopened on Wednesday.

The bridge reopened after crews looked into a washout on the approach to the bridge on US-41 in North Fort Myers on Tuesday.

Crews had to fill grout into the area that was washed out near the northern part of the bridge. The bridge never had any damage, the issue was around the approach slabs.

Seeing the road open and safe again is a huge relief to everyone who uses it.

For less than 24 hours, cones were up, and people were confused as they tried to find a way around the bridge.

“I actually had a friend call last night, and I didn’t believe him. And I believe, you know, maybe it was a temporary, like an hour thing. And I came up to it this morning and found out it was for real,” said Michael Longobardi, of Cape Coral.

Longobardi is glad the bridge is open now. His entire job is on the road.

“I drive for a nonemergency medical transportation company, it’s called Medi-Wheels.”

He is glad his phone was able to help him navigate around the bridge. “The GPS, you have alternate routes. And what I would do is hit that and see where it takes you from there,” said Longobardi.

Around 42,000 people travel the bridge daily.

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