The public was invited to join government officials on August 21 at 10 a.m. for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the soft reopening of Lee County Parks & Recreation’s restored Punta Rassa Boat Ramp.
This event also signified the conclusion of the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Sanibel Causeway Emergency Restoration project.
The ceremony featured brief remarks from Lee County commissioners, FDOT representatives, and other officials. The boat ramp officially opened for public use at noon that day, with limited amenities including the ramp, partial docks, parking, and restrooms. Additional work was scheduled to continue at the site over the coming months.
Future improvements at the Punta Rassa Boat Ramp were reported to include the completion of dock access, a fish cleaning station, landscaping, and additional lighting. Temporary signs and buffers were put in place to ensure safety during construction. Boaters were advised to avoid the docks still under construction and to refrain from climbing on the riprap along the causeway. Lee County Parks & Recreation staff and rangers were stationed on-site to assist.
The reopening marked the first time since Hurricane Ian that boaters were able to access the Punta Rassa ramp. In partnership with FDOT, the ramp had served as a staging site for permanent causeway repairs and played a crucial role in the restoration of the main road connecting the barrier islands to the mainland.
For those unable to attend, the ceremony was available for viewing through a livestream on the county’s YouTube or Facebook channels.
The public was encouraged to follow the progress of the ramp and other related projects through the Lee County Parks Project Information Tool at www.leegov.com/parks
, which provided updates on project design, construction, and completion.
The Punta Rassa Boat Ramp is located at 15001 Punta Rassa Road, Fort Myers.
