History
Before its construction, the only way to access Estero Island and Fort Myers Beach by car was via the Matanzas Pass Bridge (which was still a small swing bridge at this time). The swing bridge's machinery was highly unreliable, which concerned islanders who feared the bridge would break down in the event of an emergency, such as a hurricane evacuation. The islanders felt having a second exit for the island for safety reasons would be wise.
The county then decided the most feasible location was to run the causeway from the south end of the island to Bonita Springs. The causeway's exact routing was selected by surveyor Carl Johnson (for whom Lovers Key / Carl E. Johnson State Park was named for), and he became known as the father of the project. Construction began in 1963, and the causeway opened on July 4, 1965.
Read more about this topic: Bonita Beach Causeway
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