Traffic Watch: Highway 97 Resurfacing Resumes

October 18, 2010

Possible lengthy traffic delays will resumed Monday on Highway 97 as work continues on a resurfacing project.

Crews from Panhandle Grading & Paving have resumed laying the top asphalt layer (called a “friction course”) on Highway 97.  Motorists can expect intermittent lane restrictions from the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 north to the Alabama state line.

During construction, traffic will be restricted to one-lane through the work zone.  Variable Message Boards (VMB) are in place to notify the public of lane closures. Motorists are reminded to use extreme caution, and pay close attention to construction equipment and workers entering and exiting the roadway.  Access to businesses and residents will be maintained.

In about a week, crews will pave the southern end of Highway 97 at Highway 29, causing traffic problems in the intersection. Law enforcement will be on site during the operations in the intersection to help things move as smoothly as possible, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

Comments

11 Responses to “Traffic Watch: Highway 97 Resurfacing Resumes”

  1. dick tracy on October 20th, 2010 11:50 pm

    I really believe that Commissioner White & 6 inmates could do a better job paving this road…….but……that’s just my opinion………

  2. sniper on October 20th, 2010 11:01 am

    i USED to drive this road everyday that is until the construction started. i live in pensacola and work in davisville. its much easier to take 29 all the way to byrneville rd then hwy 4 to davisville than to put up with the rediculous wait in construction. there are many little backroads on both the east and west sides of hwy 97 to use as detours.

  3. Wondering on October 19th, 2010 2:45 pm

    Another case of “change’, maybe?

  4. FL Girl on October 19th, 2010 2:25 pm

    I also wondered about the washboard on the north end of the highway…between Godwin’s and the Piggly Wiggly it is just as bad as it ever was!

  5. Walnut Hill resident on October 19th, 2010 12:11 pm

    I agree with previous comments, why the moving around, doing small sections at a time? Also, the south bound lane from Piggle Wiggly almost to Godwin’s Crop Dusting Service is really bumpy. Are they going to come back and redo this section? The whole process has made no sense the way it has been done. Any possibility we could have an answer as to the reasoning for doing the job this way? could it be “pay by the hour”?

  6. terry on October 18th, 2010 3:32 pm

    Been sitting in line for 10 minutes already. This is crazy.

  7. Concerned on October 18th, 2010 11:28 am

    I talked with some of the workers and they told me the reason for the jumping around is because the curves were not banked up properly on the last paving thus requiring them to do it this time.
    I hope they come back and repave the section from the Alabama line to Greenland Road, Its bad.

  8. jc on October 18th, 2010 11:06 am

    Yeah I agree it is dumb……….Suprise! Monday morning and you get stopped in traffic and not allowed to turn left at the end of 97….I had to turn up 29 and turn back to get to jay…this is ridiculous……no warning whatsoever that they are going to be paving………….they need to get their act together……..and the stupid escort they have leading all the cars….like we are some kind of dumb rookies driving through road construction.

  9. Bob on October 18th, 2010 8:15 am

    In my humble opinion, there are too many chiefs and not enough indians. When you go by these sites which is every day for me lots of guys sitting in pickups others leaning on another one and still others just bunched up talking. If they all went to work this episode on Hwy 97 would long be over. If I owned the company I would personally show up one day and clean house.

  10. You Who on October 18th, 2010 7:23 am

    I have never see a road paved this way. They jump around, one day they are here and another they are there and so on. Maybe William can do a story on why they are paving this way. Its got to cost a lot more money to move all this equimpment around and just pave short sections.

  11. mary on October 18th, 2010 5:05 am

    How late will the buses be for Ernest Ward students?