12 Responses to “Public Workshop Set On Nine Mile Road Widening Project”

1. Christopher Chaffin on February 23rd, 2014 2:47 pm

   I am entering this conversation late and admit I do not know as much as I should about the scope of this project. I will attend the meeting to gain understanding and contribute if possible. I live near the intersection of Pine Forest and Detroit Boulevard, which is immediately adjacent to the intersection/exchange of PF and I-10, Exit 7. I have concerns about existing traffic hazards in this area and strongly believe that this project could and probably should resolve them in the interest of public safety.

   First, the design of the west bound Exit 7 off ramp is dangerously inadequate to safely manage the volume of traffic during all conditions that flows north and south on PF when exiting I-10. This exit has been the site of at least 3 serious single vehicle crashes in approximately 1 year, one of which was a fatality. Vehicles traveling 70 miles per hour must slow down on this off ramp and stop to go in either direction on PF. Generally, no problem when traffic is light and weather is good. However, during heavy traffic and inclement weather the ramp slow down distance is dramatically – and experience shows – dangerously shortened due to traffic back up at the light caused by congestion in all directions on PF. Typically, northbound traffic is backed up from Nine Mile Road and extends the length of PF Rd. to well beyond I-10. I believe the crashes resulted from people losing control of their vehicles when forced to panic-stop or maneuver to avoid rear-ending stopped vehicles on the off ramp. The road design contributes to this and is discussed next.

   Second, the crown of the off ramp roadway leads down hill and directly toward telephone and power poles between the off ramp and bordering Detroit Boulevard. In each of the crashes I mentioned, the vehicles actually ended up on DB. When vehicles lose control on the off ramp they naturally go there.

   Third, the traffic flow at PF and Detroit is not controlled by a traffic signal. This is a significant contributor to the congestion on PF and the off ramp. Control of this intersection must be considered along with the overall traffic flow on PF and the offramp of I-10. Widening PF from 9 Mile to this point, and perhaps beyond I-10, could significantly reduce this problem.

   These are my main concerns. I look forward to the meeting and seeing first hand the plans for this project.

2. Diane on February 21st, 2014 4:44 am

   It was my understanding that Nine Mile between 29 and Pine Forest was going to be widened a couple of years ago; but it was only re-paved. Then, when they widened Pine Forest, they only made matters worse when they didn’t complete the job all the way to Roberts Road. They keep building new sub-divisions north of this area, but they don’t allow for the traffic. Try heading home north from Nine Mile on Pine Forest and have to wait for someone turning into Dollar General because there is no turn lane. And then, head south at same location and try to figure out how to get into Publix. Come on, just because this is Escambia County doesn’t mean we can’t use common sense!

3. Gene on February 21st, 2014 4:20 am

   guys, you must not have lived here long, and not use common thinking…. the traffic WILL increase when anyone hired at navy fed lives past hwy 29 how else will they get to work?

   Traffic was 22000 when 3 lane of Pine forest rd done and has increased by 2 or 3000 in a few years.

   #2 that road traffic to Navy fed is only @ shift changes…Monsanto had 7000 employees a @ it’s peek.

4. anonymous on February 20th, 2014 11:26 pm

   While I am all for the widening of nine mile, I wonder if the construction will be going on at the same time as the Walmart construction on the corner. Talk about a traffic jam. I think the new Walmart market going in right there behind the Walgreens is just as big of an issue, if not a bigger one, than the road construction. Everyone in this community needs to speak up if they have a problem with the location of this store.

5. Gene on February 20th, 2014 7:17 pm

   I attended the Last meet & asked what the car counts were, & I received a letter stating the road 16000 a day to Navy fed, 8000 to Mobile hwy. and The road between pine forest & hwy29 had 26000 if my memory serves me correct.

   I was told the BCC pushing to fast track the project for the commerce park/helicopter field, which we do not own yet?…

   Can anyone tell me what if anything Mr. Berry has done for the North end, while $$$ still continue to go south?

6. David on February 20th, 2014 4:54 pm

   FDOT must be held accountable to 4 lane the entire 9 Mile Road segment from Mobile Highway-US 90 to US 29. FDOT must secure the funding no excuses. Let’s not take any excuses from FDOT or the Regional Planning Commission. This must be an all inclusive highway widening project 4 Lanes all the way to US 29, now not later. Why twice suffer construction disturbance and future traffic conjestion as a result of this piece-meal proposition imposed upon the residents of Escambia County, I think we deserve better.

7. Larry on February 20th, 2014 4:39 pm

   Why not split the difference from Navy Federal to Hwy 29. The section from Navy Federal to Mobile Hwy is the least traveled section. Please hope they use common sense.

8. fred on February 20th, 2014 11:23 am

   Thanks Anthony, it sounds like your input will be very helpful.

9. fred on February 20th, 2014 10:07 am

   I agree with Rob, the bottleneck really extends all the way to US 29. If all that is opened up, things should get better in that area. If you only do the proposed section, then you’ll still have traffic backed up from the 2 lane area into the new 4 lane area. You may also see new congestion on Pine Forest Road north of 9 Mile Rd, from traffic headed north avoiding the 9 Mile/29 bottleneck. I think you need to take a comprehensive look at all the directions commuters will go from that area, if the driver of this need is Navy Federal (which is probably is.)

10. Anthony on February 20th, 2014 10:04 am

    I drive both sections of the the road that you are asking about many times in a day at various times. The traffic from 29 to Pine Forest along 9 mile is bad, but it has little chance of increasing in the near future ( it has been the same bad traffic for years).

    Now given the major expansion of Navy Federal on 9 Mile Rd, the two ways to access the complex are from the east on 9 Mile or from the west on 9 mile. They are also a 24 manned facility, which mean there is ALWAYS traffic in and out of the complex. The traffic is bad there at this time, now imagine another few thousand people driving to work at the complex with then next year or so. Standstill traffic jams.

    I am going to the meeting for more information, but I do believe the the 2nd phase of this project is widening 9 mile, from Hwy 29 to Pine Forest Rd.

    My personal belief is that they are trying to get it all done, but they are setting up the phases to benefit the most people and benefit the economic growth of the county.

11. Dillweed on February 20th, 2014 8:12 am

    Because of the pending expansion of Navy Federal. The other portion will be 4 laned in a latter phase.

12. Rob on February 20th, 2014 6:33 am

    Ok, Im asking the same question as many others will…

    Why does it make sense to 4 lane Nine Mile from Mobile Highway to Pine Forest, if Pine Forest to 29 (which is even more heavily traveled) is still 2 lanes?