Century Council Discusses Transportation Wish List With State

June 14, 2016

When Highway 29, the main artery through your town, is closed due to an overturned truck and downed power lines, it makes it a bit easier to explain transportation needs to the state.

“Right now, Highway 29 is shut down because another big truck has wrecked in that curve,” Mayor Freddie McCall said. “That curve needs to be fixed.”

Tuesday evening, the Century Town Council met with Virgie Bowen of the Florida Department of Transportation to discuss the department’s Five-Year Plan — a tentative work plan for fiscal years 2017-2021. As the meeting was going on, the clean up was continuing on Highway 29 near Jackson street after a log truck overturned in a curve and hit a power pole. [Click here for more on the accident.]

“The elevation is wrong in the outside lane,” McCall told Bowen about the curve. Several trucks have overturned in the curve over the past several years, including a peanut truck a few years ago that damaged a city sewage system lift station. The station was rebuilt mostly underground to lessen or prevent future damage.

Bowen also heard a request that the state consider a parking or signage for tourists that stop for photos with the “Welcome to Florida” sign on Highway 29 at the state line. Sometimes, McCall said, tourists will stop in the travel lanes of Highway 29, turn on their emergency flashers and get out for a photo.

Bowen discussed a FDOT Transportation Alternative  Program that would fund projects such as sidewalks on roadways that are not state highways. The council discussed the possible need for a sidewalk along West Highway 4, a county road within the town limits, from Highway 29 past Industrial Boulevard to a local dialysis center. A community center, nursing home, church, numerous residences and a large apartment complex are along the roadway, leading to a large number of pedestrians.

Members of the Century Town Council additionally complained about speeders on Highway 29 through the town. They acknowledged that they often see the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office actively enforcing  speed limits, and they questioned in a portable radar-speed sign might be available that would display a driver’s speed compared to the legal speed limit.

The council’s requests will be compiled by Bowen, and she will return for a June 20 meeting with the council.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

9 Responses to “Century Council Discusses Transportation Wish List With State”

  1. Jodie on June 16th, 2016 1:06 pm

    I’m with just me….The trucks just need to SLOW down. Many times I’ve driven on Hwy 29 and the trucks are always moving faster than the posted speed limit. Don’t spend needless money on widen or fixing the Hwy….just SLOW down the trucks

  2. Citizen on June 15th, 2016 12:27 am

    “Trucks need to move to outside lane”
    There is a new sign coming in to town directing trucks to travel in the OUTSIDE lane.
    I was hoping FDOT had BIG plans like widening the road, even buying up some properties to straighten out the curves. You pull out on an almost blind curve in places. Put in a Welcome Center. I think the new drainage ponds were to help with storm water runoff. I think the high crown was put in to attempt to drain standing water off. Walking down the sidewalk with eighteen wheelers blowing by two feet from you is too close. Maybe the next five year plan .…

  3. David Huie Green on June 14th, 2016 11:03 pm

    CONSIDERING:
    “not being sarcastic but I travel that road ,, I always slow down . Maybe these big trucks need to”

    Agreed they need to slow down,
    They also need to get out of the outside lane.
    They also need to secure their loads so they don’t easily shift.

    Many have never been through before and may not know the danger before it is too late.

    David for informing the uninformed in time

  4. Retired on June 14th, 2016 1:20 pm

    Thanks to mayor and town council for bringing these request to the FDOT. Thanks to NorthEscambia for publishing these stories. I believe it important and commendable that we are all working together. The people in charge at each level can’t magically know all the needs unless they are brought forth in a constructive way. No one can snap their fingers and make things happen but a patient dedicated well thought out approach is noted and appreciated. Century is a good place to be.

  5. munchie on June 14th, 2016 11:48 am

    These trucks are driven by CDL drivers, they would know that the speed limit are for cars in certain situations. If they have driven this road before they should be aware of this curve. Slow down

  6. Kevin on June 14th, 2016 11:24 am

    I hope the state will listen. I have never liked that section of road and I find it difficult to navigate in a regular vehicle. The curve combined with the high slope of the road in the right hand lane are a recipe for more accidents such as this.

  7. M in Bratt on June 14th, 2016 7:42 am

    As a driver that drove big trucks up and down US29 for many years, I can say, that curve is not a problem. The problem is the speed of the trucks that try to navigate this curve. The speed limit through most of Century is 35mph. If that speed limit is adhered to, there is no problem. DOT should consider placing blinking warning signs where the speed limit drops from 65 to 35 at the city limits, and the speed limit should be strictly enforced.. With all the pedestrians walking across 29, day and night, often in dark clothing, it amazes me that there are not more tragic accidents in this little town.

  8. just me on June 14th, 2016 6:03 am

    not being sarcastic but I travel that road ,, I always slow down . Maybe these big trucks need to

  9. Sam on June 14th, 2016 5:35 am

    I remember the telphone cables used to run on polesright next to hwy 29 in that spot. The poles and cables were constantly being torn down.the phone company got smart and buried theirs cables down the other side of hwy 29. Problem solved.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News