Fort Myers Beach residents line up for miles on Sunday morning as Estero Island reopens

The morning of Sunday was worse for traffic than the rest of the year.

People who need to be on the island were allowed to enter at staggered openings.

Those in line miles from the Matanzas Bridge on San Carlos Boulevard were waiting for 45 minutes to get in.

The residents are back on the island for the first time since the storm.

Thousands of people in Cape Coral are still without power.

Several people spoke to The News-Press from their cars as they waited in line to get on the beach, which had been blocked since Hurricane Ian ravaged the island more than a week ago.

I will wait. I will be waiting all day. "I just want to go to the beach," he said.

When her mother was pregnant with her, her family moved to the island and have been there ever since. She was going to check on her property.

Some people weren't as calm about the wait.

There is only one path to the beach.

He found his way onto the island by dinghy and before the shut down.

He said that this doesn't do anything.

The town government took over the response to Hurricane Ian from the fire department on Saturday.

For the first time, personal vehicles were allowed on the island, but officials urged residents not to block roads.

Most houses were only accessible by foot when accessed by The News-Press on Saturday.

The mayor said that the staggered access was designed to avoid traffic congestion.

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After Hurricane Ian, businesses in the downtown area are reopening.

The Herwerdons, who traveled from Ohio to check on their family's property, said the traffic was worse than normal during the tourist season.

At the intersection of Summerlin Road and San Carlos Boulevard, Lee County Sheriff's deputies were in charge.

Around 10:30 a.m., the line of cars under the overpass started to dry up. Those heading over had to leave by 7 p.m. if they wanted to stay because of the curfew on the island.

Monica Shmucker was trying to get home after her house was damaged in the storm. She waved as she moved closer to the bridge, still three miles away.

Reach reporterMariah Timms by email at mtimms@tennessean.com or by phone at 615 259-8344.

The article was originally published on the News-Press.