Coastal communities in Florida are vulnerable to decades of extreme weather and salt-laden winds, which take a toll on aging transportation infrastructure. When the Little Pine Island Causeway and Bridge in Matlacha, Florida, was damaged during Hurricane Ian in September 2022, the vital community connection was fast-tracked by Lee County Board of Commissioners for reconstruction. VHB helped Lee County and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District One take measures to protect aquatic wildlife during construction of the new bridge, which is located in a critical habitat for the federally endangered smalltooth sawfish.
As a subconsultant to RS&H, VHB provided environmental permitting and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) support for the project. Originally constructed in 1977, the bridge connects Matlacha to Little Pine Island via CR 78 Pine Island Road. Construction began in summer 2024 and will strengthen and widen it from 35 to 53 feet with an enhanced shoulder, improved safety measures, and increased resiliency.
Heightened underwater acoustics from activities like pile driving or blasting during construction can be detrimental to fish and other aquatic life, disrupting vital behaviors like feeding and migration, and altering fragile marine ecosystems. For the Little Pine Island Bridge project, VHB consulted with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, the federal agency that is responsible for species protected under the Endangered Species Act.
“NOAA provided us with models for noise protection practices used in California and Canada projects as guides, but the application had never been used in Florida,” said Chris Dailey, VHB Gulf Coast Environmental Director. “It involves creating an air bubble curtain around pre-drilled piles via a powerful air compressor to mitigate the impacts of underwater noise and water quality when driving the piles.”
The bubble curtain attenuates noise during pile driving activities. / 00:10
This construction commitment reduced impacts to the smalltooth sawfish, swimming turtles, and marine mammals.
In addition to FDOT and NOAA, VHB coordinated with a diverse group of stakeholders to manage the environmental permitting and consulting including South Florida Water Management District, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
By employing innovative techniques and sustainable practices in transportation projects like the Little Pine Island Bridge, progress and preservation can happen hand-in-hand. Phase one of the project will be complete in Summer 2025 and will provide an improved evacuation route and mobility connection for residents and visitors.
Learn more about how VHB is making coastal communities more resilient.
