Latest Headlines
- Semi, Pickup Crash Closes Highway 29 For Hours In Cantonment
- Now That Matt Gaetz Has Resigned After Being Picked For Trump’s AG, Who Will Seek His Seat?
- Thursday Afternoon Update: CSX Railroad Crossing Closures
- Update: Northwest Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz Resigns From Congress After AG Nomination
- New ‘Wind Phone’ In Cantonment ‘Connects’ Grieving Families With Deceased Loved Ones
- Jay Couple Wins State Agriculture Competition, $45,000 Prize
- Century Paying $500 COVID-19 Stipend To Some Employees
- Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Creating Law Enforcement Memorial Plaza
- New Details Emerge In Fatal DUI Crash That Killed 14-Year-Old Cantonment Boy; Driver Released On Bond
- Cantonment Rotary Donates To Hurricane Relief
Highway 97 Bridge To Close For Reconstruction
December 22, 2017
Work is expected to begin in early January to replace a bridge on Highway 97 in Davisville.
The bridge over Sandy Hollow Creek, about a mile south of Highway 4, won’t close until after a temporary bridge is constructed.
The current bridge was constructed in 1940 and was deemed functionally obsolete, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. The bridge has an average daily traffic count of about 5,000 vehicles.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
14 Responses to “Highway 97 Bridge To Close For Reconstruction”
William, how about the bridges on Phillips, Arthur Brown, and Nokomis roads? Even though 97 is a state road, would pointing out to the Commissioner that its closure at that location is yet another option closed to those who use these routes every day. Though he couldn’t sway the state, maybe by adding the significance of the 97 closure to the other closures, he’d understand the necessity to fast track the county process. Folks who didn’t live it every day or depend on it for safety reasons don’t likely understand the ramifications of all these simultaneous closures. If memory serves, when Phillips Road bridge was announced, they were to begin the process for contracting at year’s end. Not sure about Brown and Nokomis bridges but, great googly moogly!!
>>>, I urge everyone to contact and continue contacting the County Commissioner for this area, Steve Barry.
This is a state bridge on a state road. The county commission would have zero say or involvement in closing this bridge.
As more and more roadways are closed off due to bridge construction, I urge everyone to contact and continue contacting the County Commissioner for this area, Steve Barry. It’s become like some sort of board game – how many entrance/egress points can be sealed off to entrap residents of north Escambia County. Bratt res is right. Sure, we’re rural and we love where we live but, c’mon, we have to go to town once in awhile! More importantly, inconvenience is one thing but endangering life and property by limiting access to emergency vehicles is quite another. Here is Commissioner Barry’s email contact info: district5@myescambia.com and phone: Dawn Troche, Commissioner’s Aide 850-595-4950. They should hear repeatedly from folks who are being adversely affected by these poorly scheduled “improvements” to our aging bridges and roadways. Make some noise!
Well thats gonna make my day a bit more of a pain. But, if it need replacing, then I’m glad its getting done.
Sure hope they get it fixed quick
Thanks for the clarification, William. Cnst and clsd look similar in the morning fog and the haze of aging eyesight. You do an amazing job. Thanks for all you do for North Escambia county!
I understand the whole bride repair thing, but what I don’t understand is who and why they planned all these bridges at pretty much the same time. There’s like 5 going on right now in this small community! The roads are worse than the “dirt” roads we used to have!! Better planning would have been nice!!
@emd is that a broken hardy boys reference there?
>>>If you are correct in that they will not close the road until a temporary bridge is installed, why has F.D.O.T. put the sign up on 12/27 saying the road will be closed from 1/3/18 until 8/30/18?
Our info is direct from FDOT, so it’s correct.
The sign does not say the road will be closed. It says “1/3 to 8/30 SR97 Bridge Cnst”
Just in case anybody else wondered:
“Functionally obsolete” means that the bridge design is outdated. For example, narrow shoulders, narrow lanes, or older traffic barriers can induce the functionally obsolete classification. Functionally obsolete bridges are scheduled for replacement or rehabilitation as budgets permit.
http://www.fdot.gov/maintenance/bridgeinfo.shtm
David the functionally obsolete
My bad, sign went up this past Wednesday 12/20. Life is moving too fast these days,HA!!
If you are correct in that they will not close the road until a temporary bridge is installed, why has F.D.O.T. put the sign up on 12/27 saying the road will be closed from 1/3/18 until 8/30/18? The original plan (12 months ago) was a temporary bridge but they haven’t even started on a temporary bridge. Maybe plans changed?
I was constructed two years later, and society has already declared me “obsolete.”
If all of these bridges in Florida are obsolete I can’t imagine how bad the ones in Alabama must be.