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Vehicles Collide On Narrow Highway 97 Bridge Set For Replacement
January 1, 2018
Sunday afternoon, two vehicles side-swiped on a narrow Highway 97 bridge, just days before construction is set to begin to replace the bridge with a wider structure.
The cars collided just after 4 p.m. on the Highway 97 bridge over Sandy Hollow Creek, about a mile south of Highway 4. One vehicle remained on the bridge, while the second came to rest about 100 yards away off the roadway in a ditch. The driver of the vehicle that remained on the bridge was transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital. The driver and occupant of the second vehicle refused treatment at the scene.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol; further details have not been released.
Work is scheduled to begin this week, weather permitting, to replace the bridge. According to the Florida Department of Transportation, the bridge was deemed functional obsolete, partially due to its narrow width.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
7 Responses to “Vehicles Collide On Narrow Highway 97 Bridge Set For Replacement”
For these two cars to make contact the way these pictures indicate one of them had to have crossed the center line. There is plenty of room for two opposing cars to pass each other on this bridge.
Each existing lane is ten feet wide which is as wide as the original concrete deck bridge with concrete curbing and concrete rail. So the bridge is just as wide as it ever was. The new metal posts and rail was installed so the width of the travel lane would not be decreased. The new rail system was installed due to the inability of the original concrete rails to redirect traffic, a significant safety concern. To increase safety without lowering travel distance is actually a result of an intelligent decision.
I disagree that the bridge has been the same width for forty years. Please carefully review the photos and you will see the original bridge was much wider, but some numbskull decided to run the continuous steel guard rail up onto the bridge which made the bridge more narrow and dangerous. Instead of running concrete continuous form barriers right up to the edge of the existing concrete bridge structure, some Einstein in government decided to narrow the bridge by putting guardrails on the bridge. Idiocy!
These people who make these decisions should be fired. The same folks who have added hours of commute time to folks in North Escambia County.
I live near the place where this occurred and if people do not slow down NO bridge is going to be wide enough. Highway 97 is terrible for speeding. The hill on each side of this bridge is impossible to see over and pass someone. It has always been a hazard with people trying to pass and landing almost in the residents homes near there. Also the lights on the patrol cars are so bright one cannot see around them when they stop someone. Just recently on Hwy 4 I was driving home and 2-3 patrol cars turned on their lights in the roadway and it was so bad as I passed I blew my horn and could not see 10 feet ahead of me as I tried to pass them. As I slowly passed they came after me and when I stopped the police came and lectured me for blowing my horn at them. I could not see anything when I came upon them in the roadway. These new lights are so—– dangerous. They are blinding. Please law enforcement do not use them unnecessarily. I will talk to Sheriff Morgan about this danger. Please motorist slow down and live!!!!
This bridge will easily accomodate two cars driven by two careful drivers. It will not accommodate two vehicles when one or both drivers are careless. This is yet another wreck on 97.
That bridge has been the same width for over 40 years why can’t two compact cars pass each other on it today?
One thing for sure around here– A tow truck operator, a paint and body repair person, an insurance adjuster, a used car salesperson and police officer most certainly should be able make a living..