New Traffic Pattern Begins Tonight On I-10 At Highway 29

August 13, 2017

Drivers will encounter a new traffic pattern on I-10 eastbound near the Highway 29 exit beginning Sunday night. The wider bridge and travel lanes will open, removing the eastbound left merge lane onto I-10 from U.S. 29 south. Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. as crews perform operations to transition traffic to the new configuration.

“The construction team worked diligently to complete this part of the project and eliminate the left-side merge,” said Senior Project Engineer Erica Jernigan. “The measure will benefit the many commuters who travel the route daily.”

In the new configuration, three I-10 eastbound travel lanes will merge with the current three lanes just east of the I-10/U.S. 29 interchange. Drivers traveling from U.S. 29 north to I-10 eastbound will have a standard right-side merge onto I-10 eastbound.

All construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.

Graphic source: FDOT

Comments

13 Responses to “New Traffic Pattern Begins Tonight On I-10 At Highway 29”

  1. Sue on August 15th, 2017 11:51 pm

    TOTALLY AGREE WITH DIANE GAGNON & elizoria!!! Was totally shocked when traveling north on Hwy 29 this morning and took the on-ramp to East I-10 to suddenly realize that the lane that is normally there had disappeared – the one that used to continue all the way to I-110 without having to compete with the 18 wheelers also traveling east who had been directed by a flashing sign prior to crossing over Hwy 29 “to use the right hand lane”. Guess it sucks for us now!!! Must also realize that others traveling east over Hwy 29 are also not used to people merging from the right now!! I predict a few accidents in the area! Hope not though! Slow down people & pay attention!

  2. Shelly on August 15th, 2017 10:35 am

    I drive that route daily for many years. It is a big improvement but the lane needs to be stripped and it wouldn’t hurt to have a flashing light letting motorists know to yield to left incoming traffic.

  3. Diane Gagnon on August 15th, 2017 7:04 am

    Wonderful for 29 south merge…HOWEVER the same dangerous merge issue has now
    merely been moved to 29 north drivers! With all the money that was spent, surely both on-ramps could have been made safe. At least a warning ‘merge left’ sign should have been erected for this dangerous lane change.

  4. Northend resident on August 14th, 2017 9:35 pm

    Such a relief! This was the most dangerous place in pensacola. I dreaded even getting onto this ramp. Bravo! Lives will definitly be saved! My husband refused to even take this exit for years because of the danger of people not letting u in when merge lane run out and being afraid of getting hit from behind because u have to stop sometimes when people flying down the highway wont move over to let u in.

  5. elizoria on August 14th, 2017 10:26 am

    Was a huge shock when my lane suddenly disappeared this morning (NB29 to E10). Thank goodness the car behind me was paying attention and let me into his lane!

  6. CW on August 13th, 2017 8:31 pm

    This will be a huge help. It wouldn’t have been an issue before if people would be courteous and let you over, but many will not.

  7. Granny B on August 13th, 2017 2:29 pm

    The extra room to merge already available is a big help. Merging should be a part of driver’s training. The merge lane is also an acceleration lane. One should not stop when merging into traffic. Having a lane committed to entering I-10 eastbound from Hwy 29 south will be a big help!

  8. Miranda on August 13th, 2017 11:48 am

    Yay, Yay, and Yay. Now I don’t have to fear death with the game of chicken every.single.day to merge onto I-10 northbound. Way to go Escambia County. Much appreciated!

  9. Gary on August 13th, 2017 9:45 am

    The photo is confusing. It should show the route from southbound on 29 to east on I 10

  10. Grandma on August 13th, 2017 9:27 am

    Concerned Drive, it is the same on ramp BUT instead of merging with I-10 traffic you will have a dedicated lane that becomes the inside I-10 travel lane eastbound.
    But with DOT, I could be wrong…

  11. John on August 13th, 2017 9:26 am

    Use the same onramp to east on I-10. The difference is that you don’t need to merge into traffic from the left because you have your own lane on the left side now.

  12. Commonsense on August 13th, 2017 9:10 am

    @concerned driver
    The on ramp is still there…but you just continue forward in the new 3rd lane, eliminating the need to merge so quickly like you used to. Then if you need to get over for I-110 or Davis, you have the full distance between 29 and those exits to safely move over.

  13. concerned driver on August 13th, 2017 8:09 am

    Then how are you supposed to get on eastbound I 10 from traveling south on hwy 29.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News