Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Problem Areas
April 1, 2019
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and projects in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- · U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) – The following traffic impacts will occur from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, March 31 until Saturday, April 6.
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- Temporary Closure of U.S. 29 Northbound Off and On-ramps- The northbound U.S. 29 off and on-ramps at Nine Mile Road will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday, April 5 to 6 a.m. Monday, April 8 to provide safe work zones for crews to construct partial segments of the future off and on-ramps. Nine Mile Road travelers heading north on U.S. 29 will be redirected to northbound Palafox Street, 9 ½ Mile Road, and back to U.S. 29. Travelers wanting to access Nine Mile Road from northbound U.S. 29 may use W. Hood Drive, Palafox Street to Nine Mile Road.
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- Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 Overpass: Alternating traffic shifts will direct all traffic onto the westbound or eastbound lanes as crews continue construction of the new northbound bridge deck. Nine Mile Road lane restrictions are Sunday through Friday.
- U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Drainage and paving operations continue. Drivers can expect alternating lane closures Monday through Saturday.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement Bridge- Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, March 31 to Sunday, April 7:
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- U.S. 98 east and westbound from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to just east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- U.S. 90 (North Davis Highway) and State Road (S.R.) 10A (Scenic Highway) Utility Work- Drivers will encounter intermittent lane restrictions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Saturday, April 6 on North Davis Highway and Scenic Highway in Pensacola at the following locations as crews trim trees around utility lines:
- North Davis Highway: Northbound from south of Scenic Highway to Airport Boulevard
- Scenic Highway: Westbound from I-10 to North Davis Highway
- U.S. 90 (Mobile Highway) and County Road (C.R.) 99 (Beulah Road) Intersection- Operations may require intermittent lane closures near the intersection the week of Sunday, March 31. There will be no lane closures allowed from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- I-10 Utility Work- Drivers will encounter alternating and intermittent, east and westbound lane restrictions on I-10 from the U.S. 90 alternative exit (Exit 5) to the U.S. 90 Scenic highway exit (Exit 17) from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. from Sunday, March 31 until Tuesday, April 2 as crews perform lighting repairs.
- I-110 Utility Work- Drivers will encounter alternating and intermittent, north and southbound lane restrictions on I-110 from the East Gregory Street exit (Exit 1A) to the I-10 interchange (Exit 6) from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. from Sunday, March 31 until Tuesday, April 2 as crews perform lighting repairs.
- U.S. 98 East Chase Street Resurfacing from North Palafox Street to Bayfront Parkway- Intermittent lane restrictions may take place from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday, April 1 as crews install pavement markings.
- I-10 Rolling Road Block- Motorists will encounter a rolling road block at the following locations in Pensacola between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. from Monday, April 2 to Wednesday, April 4 as Gulf Power pulls lines across I-10. Law enforcement will slow traffic to 20 mph for 15 minutes at each location.
- I-10 eastbound at one mile east of the S.R. 95/U.S. 29 interchange
- I-10 westbound at one mile east of the S.R. 95/U.S. 29 interchange
- I-110 northbound at East Gregory street
- U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) Widening from Beulah to Pine Forest Road- The westernmost Nine Mile Road eastbound ramp to Interstate 10 (I-10) is temporarily closed. During the closure, Nine Mile Road eastbound drivers will access I-10 eastbound via the second, or easternmost on-ramp at this location. The temporary closure is expected to be in place for several weeks as the westernmost on-ramp is reconstructed.
- U.S. 90A (Nine Mile Road) Widening from S.R. 297 (Pine Forest Road) to U.S. 29- Cove Avenue from Nine Mile Road to Fretz Street will be closed from 7 a.m. Tuesday, April 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 6. The closure will allow crews to place drainage pipes across the roadway. Traffic will be detoured to Bowman Avenue and Fretz Street. Detour signs and variable message boards are in place to alert drivers of the temporary road closure and detour routes.
- Bayou Boulevard (S.R. 296) Drainage Repairs- The eastbound, outside lane of Bayou Boulevard in Pensacola will be closed at Ninth Avenue from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Wednesday, April 3 as crews perform drainage repairs.
- Crary Road Bridge Replacement over Pritchett Mill Creek- Crary Road is closed between Tedder Road and Byrneville Road as crews construct a bridge culvert. Motorists will be detoured via County Road (C.R.) 4 and Byrneville Road. The project is anticipated to be complete spring 2019.
- Bratt Road Bridge Replacement over Canoe Creek - Bratt Road will continue to be closed near Canoe Creek. Drivers on Bratt Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to Pine Barren Road and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will be detoured east on Bratt Road. The project is anticipated to be complete summer 2019.
- Hanks Road Bridge Replacement over Breastworks Creek - Construction activities have begun. The roadway will be temporarily closed during construction. Drivers on Hanks Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to C.R. 99 and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will utilize Pine Barren Road.
Santa Rosa County:
- S.R. 87 Pavement Markings Replacement- Traffic will encounter minor delays at the following locations Monday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. to Thursday, April 25 as crews remove and replace pavement markings in the roadway. Law enforcement will be on site to direct traffic:
- U.S. 90 to Nicholas Lake Road
- U.S. 98 to Vonnie Tolbert Road
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Bridge construction will require the following lane closures from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, March 31 to Sunday, April 7:
- U.S. 98 east and westbound from North 14th Avenue in Pensacola to just east of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze.
- North 17th Avenue in Pensacola, between U.S. 98 and the CSX Railroad overpass (Graffiti Bridge).
- I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) – The following construction related traffic impacts are planned for I-10 and Avalon Boulevard from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. the week of Sunday, March 31:
- The new eastbound travel lane on I-10, between the Escambia Bay Bridge and Avalon Boulevard, will open the week of Sunday, March 31.
- Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Thursday evenings as crews perform construction activities.
- Alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, March 31 through Friday, April 5 as crews work to widen the roadway.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Spring? Mother Nature Says April Fools! Low Tonight In The Low 40s
April 1, 2019
The calendar may say spring, but it also says April Fools’ Day. After a high in the middle 60s, we will dip down to the low 40s Monday tonight with a few showers. There will be a turnaround to more seasonable spring-like temperatures and storms toward the end of the week.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the evening.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 70. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 45. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81.
Gas Prices Jump
April 1, 2019
Rising demand and tightening fuel supplies led to a significant jump at the pump last week. Florida gas prices rose an average of 14 cents, before slipping a penny over the weekend.
Florida drivers are currently paying an average price of $2.75 per gallon for regular unleaded. Sunday’s state average is 13 cents more than a week ago, nearly 30 cents more than last month, and nearly 10 cents more than this time last year.
In Escambia County, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded was $2.61 on Sunday, up from $2.57 a week ago.
“Florida drivers experienced another round of rising prices last week, as fuel supplies continued to tighten due to refinery issues,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Although gas price hikes are not out of the norm, this time of year, it’s something that often catches many motorists by surprise. Fortunately, gas prices appear to be leveling off for now. Based on current wholesale prices, AAA does not forecast another round of rising prices this week, unless there is an unexpected supply interruption or stock market spike. Even still, motorists are not out of the woods yet. Until supply levels return to normal, the potential will remain for additional price hikes.”
Seasonal factors like rising demand, refinery maintenance, lower supplies, and the switch to summer gasoline can cause gas prices to rise 20-75 cents in the spring. So far this year, the state average has risen 64 cents, which is almost 20 cents more than the price-hike drivers experienced last year. The difference is largely due to bigger swings in oil prices this year, and a more volatile maintenance season for refineries.
Tate Aggies Announce 2019 Football Schedule
April 1, 2019
The Tate Aggies have finalized their 2019 football schedule.
The junior varsity and and freshmen schedules are still in the works.
Byrneville Elementary Begins Process To Finance New Construction
April 1, 2019
Byrneville Elementary School is moving forward toward a loan to construct new classrooms to replacing aging portable buildings.
The loan, estimated to be up to $3 million, will be through the USDA Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program through United Bank.
United Bank Vice President Chris Walker told the Byrneville Elementary board of directors that through the program the loan rate will be below prime, and the bank will hold a revenue warrant rather than a mortgage.
“This is so good for the borrowers. That means they are not going to seek a mortgage on the property which saves you closing costs,” he said.
Capital Trust Agency Executive Director Ed Gray attended the board’s meeting to offer financial advice in an unofficial capacity at no charge. He said the board may need to divide their overall construction project into smaller, more affordable projects.
Byrneville, a charter school that operates under its own board of directors, will first submit financials to United Bank to determine the feasible loan amount before moving forward.
Last year, the board discussed an ambitious building program for a new building with 10 classrooms, a 1,000 square foot multipurpose room and associated spaces, and a new cafetorium with a serving kitchen. The project would also have included upgrades to the existing main school building to include fire sprinklers and central air conditioning and converting the existing cafeteria into a library space that will include a closed circuit television studio. The estimated price tag with furnishings was about $7.7 million.
Byrneville Elementary Principal Dee Wolfe-Sullivan said “we know right now we can’t” afford a loan for the complete project to include complete renovation of the school’s main building, which was constructed in 1941.
Pictured top: Byrneville Elementary School board of directors members Cheryl Boutwell and Jeremy Hawsey listen to a presentation from United Bank Vice President Chris Walker. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate, Northview Release Testing Schedules
April 1, 2019
Spring testing is beginning soon at Tate and Northview high schools as follows:
TATE HIGH
April 9 – English Language Arts Writing grades 9 & 10
May 1 – US History
May 1 – English Language Arts Reading Session 1 grades 9 & 10
May 2 – English Language Arts Reading Session 2 grades 9 & 10
May 6 – Biology
May 8 – Algebra and Geometry Session 1
May 9 -Algebra and Geometry Session 2
NORTHVIEW HIGH
April 2 – English Language Arts Writing grades 9 & 10
May 1- US History
May 1 – English Language Arts Reading Session 1 grades 9 & 10
May 2 – English Language Arts Reading Session 2 grades 9 & 10
May 7 – Algebra and Geometry Session 1
May 8 – Algebra and Geometry Session 2
May 14 – Biology
“These exams are very important because students are required to score proficient on a number of them to meet graduation requirements,” Northview Interim Principal Gerry Pippins said. “Those that are not graduation requirements are calculated to determine the final grade in the course so they are very important as well. We urge all parents to make sure their child gets plenty rest and attends all testing sessions so they give themselves the very best chance to succeed.”
Source: Schedules provided by each school.