[3] As early as 1912, automobile ferries serviced Sanibel Island from the mainland at Punta Rassa.

Despite the opinions of the islanders, it was clear that the ferries were insufficient by the mid-1950s as demand increased leading to long lines of vehicles waiting to cross the bay.

[4] An early proposal would have had a bridge running from Point Ybel (where Sanibel Lighthouse is currently located) to the mainland, since it was the shortest route.

The current route was ultimately selected due to the bay being shallower and two causeway islands could be created by dredging.

By the early 1990s, the original bridges began showing signs of rapid deterioration due to the bay's saltwater, prompting the county to make major repairs.

[5] During a routine inspection in early 2003, severe cracks were discovered underneath a 48-foot (15 m) deck section on Bridge B.

After this discovery, all three of the bridges were very closely monitored, and the damaged section was braced with additional steel pilings.

Sanibel claimed that Lee County did not maintain the bridges properly and used the toll revenue for other road projects.

The causeway received minor damage and was inspected before Sanibel residents were permitted to return to the island.

The original drawbridge was later demolished, and their remains sunk into the water to create artificial reefs in the San Carlos Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

[9] On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian partially destroyed the causeway, and the mainland approach was heavily damaged.

As part of this work, improvements were made to the causeway’s design to better withstand future storms without cutting off access to the mainland.

The Sanibel-Captiva Optimists Club had held a raffle for the opportunity to be the operator of the drawbridge's machinery for its final opening.

Seasonal Sanibel residents Bob and Ana Finks won the raffle, and they also got to keep the operating lever from the drawbridge's control room as part of the prize.

While the county initially planned to demolish the entire structure, a grassroots campaign was launched by local fisherman to have part of the span left intact for a fishing pier similar to the former spans of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and the Overseas Highway.

Despite the campaign initially succeeding, plans to install new deck sections on top of the pilings for the pier were scrapped in early 2010 due to budget cuts.