Florida’s roads projects are a staple of the Roads & Bridges Top 10 Road Awards, taking home first place in 2025 for their quick dispatch on the Hurricane Ian Sanibel Island Access project.  Submissions are open until Sept. 4 for the 2026 Roads & Bridges Top 10 Road and Bridge Awards.

Their projects show their dedication to safety and innovation and today we are going to highlight three projects out of the Sunshine State.

Hurricane Ian Sanibel Island Access | Lee County, Florida

After Hurricane Ian destroyed the only roadway connection to Sanibel Island in 2022, crews restored emergency access in just seven days and delivered a permanent, storm-resilient replacement that reopened a critical lifeline for residents and businesses. Using a progressive design-build approach, the project team rebuilt the causeway with higher elevations, reinforced coastal protections and materials designed to withstand future hurricanes. Advanced technologies, including drones, coastal modeling and building information modeling, helped accelerate both recovery and long-term reconstruction efforts. The new causeway has already proven its resilience, remaining operational through multiple major hurricanes in 2024. Today, it serves as a national example of how innovative engineering and collaboration can strengthen infrastructure in the face of increasingly severe storms.

Kirkman Road Extension (State Road 435) | Orlando, Florida

The Kirkman Road Extension closed a long-missing transportation gap in one of Central Florida’s busiest corridors, improving access to major employment centers, attractions and growing developments. The 1.7-mile project combines new roadway capacity, a signature elevated ramp, multimodal pathways and intelligent transportation systems to improve mobility and reduce congestion. Project teams navigated complex urban constraints, utility conflicts and challenging construction conditions while maintaining safety in a high-traffic environment. Innovative design refinements, advanced modeling technology and sustainable construction practices helped streamline delivery and enhance long-term performance. The result is a modern transportation corridor that strengthens connectivity, supports economic growth and sets a new benchmark for urban roadway projects.

Interstate 4 Ultimate Improvement Project | Orlando, Florida

The Interstate 4 Ultimate Improvement Project transformed 21 miles of one of Central Florida’s most congested corridors, improving mobility for residents, commuters and the millions of visitors who travel through the region each year. The $2.87 billion effort added dynamic express lanes, rebuilt interchanges and replaced or widened dozens of bridges to increase capacity and improve traffic flow. The project also addressed longstanding safety concerns by reducing bottlenecks, widening shoulders and modernizing roadway design throughout the corridor. Advanced technology, extensive community engagement and public-private collaboration helped deliver one of the largest transportation projects in Florida history. The result is a safer, more efficient highway that will support Central Florida’s growth and economic vitality for decades to come.

These projects demonstrate how Florida’s transportation teams are improving mobility, strengthening resilience and delivering innovative solutions to complex infrastructure challenges. Think your project belongs among this year’s winners? Submit it for the 2026 Roads & Bridges Top 10 Road and Bridge Awards by Sept. 4.