Federal Stimulus Money Could Come To North Escambia

February 15, 2009

29repave.jpgIf all goes as planned, the federal stimulus package will bring over $5 million in road construction to North Escambia with a major resurfacing project on Highway 29.

The Florida Department of Transportation’s local District 3  plans list $567 million of projects that are “shovel ready”. Of the 16 counties in district, 10 had shovel ready projects for a quick start, including Escambia with $11,381,560 in projects. Santa Rosa County had $42,940,424. Both counties were far suprassed on the funding list by Okaloosa County at$49,756,096; Bay County at $81,240,290; and Walton County at $339,905,612. Walton County’s money list includes a major bridge project.

“We got screwed by FDOT,” District 5 Commissioner Kevin White told NorthEscambia.com. “We did not get very much funding at all.”

The Highway 29 resurfacing project would be Escambia County’s largest at $5,049,904. It would resurface the highway from Highway 97 to north of Pine Barren Road. With the federal money, the Highway 29 project could begin within 120 days, according to Tommie Speights, Public Information Director for District 3 of the FDOT. Without federal money, the Highway 29 resurfacing project is not scheduled to take place within the next five years, he said.

Other Escambia projects to be funding with the federal stimulus money, if it is approved, includes $4.6 million to resurface a portion of Blue Angel Parkway, and about $800 thousand each to add turn lanes on Gulf Beach Highway and Blue Angel Parkway.

Comments

6 Responses to “Federal Stimulus Money Could Come To North Escambia”

  1. Jay on February 16th, 2009 7:50 am

    U.S. 29 the major north/south highway into Pensacola and from Molino north to Century it is falling apart. This road is a real nice welcome to Florida for all those visitors traveling into the area. How about a broken windshield for coming to Pensacola to visit? Not to mention those of us who live and travel the road everyday, and most can say that they’ve gotten a windshield or two cracked by the small rocks and asphalt coming loose from the road’s surface. Go east to U.S. 231, which takes folks into Panama City; it’s in fantastic condition because it was resurfaced all the way north to the state line. Maybe it’s because the regional DOT office is in Chipley and the supervisors there don’t make it over this way. I’d like to see the chamber of commerce along with the county to put some pressure on FDOT to get the highway resurfaced up to Century from the Atmore cut off, not just to the now defunct McDavid sawmill.

  2. Cheryl on February 16th, 2009 7:38 am

    All of Escambia County roads are in need of work. There has been way to many deaths blamed on drivers “OVER Correcting” Our shoulders on the roads are not shoulders they are DROP OFFS. Class 5 Gravel needs to be put EVEN with the pavement and feathered down. This would also help with the breaking off of the edges of the pavement. Our roads are a death trap!!!!!!

  3. W.R. on February 15th, 2009 9:10 pm

    I second the motion ‘Nuthill’ Hwy. 97 is certainly overdue for upgrades. Traveling this highway now is worse than old higway US 90 was 50 plus years ago when it was labled “Bloody 90″. I tell everyone I know to be careful when traveling Highway 97 as it is extremely dangerous. Wake up State leaders and read the news papers Atmore Alabama is now goling on the Map and there will be more travel on Hwy. 97 to and from the Pensacola area.

  4. LULU on February 15th, 2009 8:40 am

    I just want tot know if LOCAL people will be put to work on this project, or will it be out-of-towners getting paid per deim?

  5. Nuthill on February 15th, 2009 7:20 am

    The North End always gets the shaft by FDOT, Commisioners, Senators, and Representatives. Does anyone stand up for us? Highway 97 should be four laned especially with the increased traffic since the Wind Creek Casino opened in Atmore. Has anyone ever looked at this problem? How many more will have to die on Hwy. 97 before something is done?

  6. i dunno on February 15th, 2009 5:04 am

    Yo Kevin……how bout bein a little mo professional wif yo werds????

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News