Here Are This Week’s Road Construction Trouble Spots
May 13, 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, May 5 through Saturday, May 11.
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- U.S. 29 Bridge over Nine Mile Road: A new U.S. 29 traffic pattern will be implemented for the bridge over Nine Mile Road during the week of May 5. Beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, northbound traffic will shift onto the newly-constructed northbound bridge. Southbound traffic will shift onto the center portion of the new bridge later in the week, after crews realign the barrier wall and restripe the roadway.
- 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, May 5 through Sunday, May 12:
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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).
- State Road (S.R.) 289 (Ninth Avenue) over I-10 Routine Bridge Maintenance- Drivers will encounter alternating and intermittent, north and southbound lane restrictions on S.R. 289 over I-10, half a mile north of S.R. 742, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday, May 6 and Tuesday, May 7 as crews perform routine bridge maintenance.
- Lane Closures for Fiesta 5K and 10K Runs- Drivers will encounter lane closures at the following locations in Pensacola from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4 for the Fiesta 5K and 10K runs:
- S.R. 750 (Airport Boulevard) eastbound from 9th Avenue to 12th Avenue
- U.S. 90 (Cervantes Street) westbound from 12th Avenue to Palafox Street
- I-10 over Escambia Bay Routine Bridge Maintenance- Motorists will encounter intermittent eastbound lane restrictions on I-10 over Escambia Bay from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday, May 7 through Thursday, May 8 as crews perform routine bridge maintenance.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Maintenance over Eleven Mile Creek- Eastbound traffic will be restricted to one lane over Eleven Mile Creek from 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 8 to 4 a.m. Thursday, May 9 as crews replace joint, repair the deck surface, and clean the bridge.
- County Road (C.R.) 168 Bridge Replacement over Unnamed Branch- Activities associated with the bridge replacement project on C.R. 168 over Unnamed Branch, Northwest of Century, are underway. The project is anticipated to be complete late 2019.
- Crary Road Bridge Replacement over Pritchett Mill Creek- Crary Road is closed between Tedder Road and Byrneville Road as crews continue to construct a bridge culvert. Motorists will be detoured via C.R. 4 and Byrneville Road. The project is anticipated to be complete summer 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 continue. 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:
- 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, May 5 through Sunday, May 12:
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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).
- I-10 Widening from the 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 the week of Sunday, May 5 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.:
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- Drivers may encounter intermittent east and westbound lane closures on I-10, between Escambia Bay Bridge and just east of Avalon Boulevard (Exit 22) as crews place the final layer of asphalt. I-10 may be reduced to a single travel lane between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. At all other times, at least two travel lanes will remain open.
- The I-10 westbound off-ramp will be closed the night of Thursday, May 9 as crews place the final friction course layer of asphalt.
- Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, Monday through Thursday, as crews perform construction activities.
- S.R. 87 over Coldwater Creek Routine Bridge Inspection- Traffic on S.R. 87 will be reduced to one lane over Coldwater Creek, eight miles south of S.R. 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 8 as crews perform a routine bridge inspection.
- U.S. 90 Turn Lane Construction at Spencerfield Road- Motorists will encounter eastbound lane restrictions on U.S. 90 in Pace, just west of Spencerfield Road, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Wednesday, May 8 and Thursday, May 9 as crews construct a right turn lane for a new commercial business.
- S.R. 87 Pavement Markings Replacement- Traffic on S.R. 87 will encounter alternating and intermittent minor delays at the following locations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sundays through Friday, until Thursday, July 30 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 Safety Improvements at Constitution Drive and Navarre School Road- The westbound, left turn lane at Sunrise Drive is open to traffic. Improvements at Navarre School Road and drainage improvements at Thresher Drive and Newport Street are complete. Crews will soon place the final layer of asphalt and striping, perform general project clean up, and place sod.
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.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Bill To Map, Track And Require Septic Tank Inspections Is Not Approved
May 13, 2019
A bill that would require the Florida Department of Health identify and map all septic tanks in the state failed to pass this legislative session. The bill was indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration.
The bill was passed by the Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee 12-0 but never made it to the House floor.
The measure would have required inspections of septic systems at least once every five years and required the Department of Health to develop minimum standards and requirements for pumping out or repairing failing systems.
District 5 Commissioner Holding Town Hall Tuesday
May 13, 2019
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven barry will hold a town hall meeting on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Langley Bell 4-H Center located at 3730 Stefani Road. Residents are invited and encouraged to attend this open forum event with their questions or concerns.
Pictured: A February town hall meeting with District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry attended by about 100 people at the Molino Community Center. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunny And Dry For The Week
May 13, 2019
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. North wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 79. North wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 82. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. Calm wind.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 88.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 86.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Gas Prices Decline Slightly
May 13, 2019
Florida gas prices declined an average of 7 cents during the past week. The state average has declined the past nine days for a total decline of 8 cents.
In Escambia County on Sunday, the average price per gallon was $2.65, down a nickel from a week ago. Pensacola metro prices were among the lowest in the state.
Sunday’s state average of $2.71 per gallon is 7 cents less than a week. Year-to-date, the state average has averaged $2.48 per gallon – 11 cents less than the same period last year.
“Stabilizing fuel supplies and lower crude oil prices are leading to cheaper prices at the pump,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Recent declines in wholesale gasoline should allow the state average to slip another 5 cents or more in the next week or two. However, May is a very volatile month for gasoline and motorists should not be surprised if pump prices rise again before Memorial Day.”
Sheriff Morgan Selling A Steer ‘With Horns’ And It Comes With A Warning
May 13, 2019
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan is selling a “large black steer with horns”, and it comes with a warning.
The “animal is aggressive and will charge” and “adequate fencing necessary to properly contain animal” is required according to a buyer beware statement from the ECSO.
The steer will be sold at public auction to the highest bidder with cash in hand at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 16 at the ECSO substation at 5844 Highway 29 in Molino.
The Sheriff’s Office took possession of the steer after it was found last month in the area of Chemstrand Road and Turners Meadow Road.
Senior Scholar Athletes Honored
May 13, 2019
The top senior student-athletes in each sport from Escambia and Santa Rosa County were honored recently during the 2019 Annual Senior Scholar Athlete Banquet. There were 214 senior nominees.
Cali Wilson, Gulf Breeze High School and Walker Parra from Washington High School, won the overall female and male scholarships, respectively. The Pensacola Sports Foundation awarded these two individuals each with a $4,000 scholarship.
Individual sport winners were:
Baseball – Mason Land – Tate
Girls Basketball – Breanna Garrett – Pensacola Catholic
Boys Basketball – David Melega – Navarre
Cheerleading – Krysanne Hagen – Tate
Boys Cross County – Rory Carmody – West Florida
Girls Cross – Erica Fisher – Pace
Football – Hunter Rayburn – Pensacola High School
Girls Golf – Mary Elise Shultz – Pace
Boys Golf – Chase O’Connor – West Florida
Girls Lacrosse – Vanessa Welch – Gulf Breeze
Boys Lacrosse – William Butler – Pensacola Catholic
Girls Soccer – Makenna Stafford – Tate
Boys Soccer – Quinten Endacott – Pensacola Catholic
Softball – Madelyn Vasquez – Gulf Breeze
Girls Swimming – Georgia Smith – Pensacola Catholic
Boys Swimming – Cason Forst – Tate
Girls Tennis – Callie Mitchell – Gulf Breeze
Boys Tennis – Michael Eddins – Pensacola Catholic
Girls Track – Taylor Hill – West Florida
Boys Track – Spencer St. – West Florida
Volleyball – Autumn Carter – West Florida
Girls Weightlifting – Julia McMaster – Navarre
Boys Weightlifting – Joshua Carter – Navarre
Wrestling – Tyler Tran – Pace
Blessings Abound: Reimagine Spring Held In Gonzalez (With Photo Gallery)
May 12, 2019
The hearts and lives of area residents in need were touched during Reimagine Spring on Saturday in Gonzalez.
The faith-based event included a 15,000 pound food giveaway, free clothing, free lunch, free haircuts, children’s activities, free blood pressure and health screenings, free baby diapers, free toys and much more during the event at Ascend Park on Old Chemstrand Road.
Everything at the event was free.
Reimagine Spring is a project of Doers of the Word Ministry and is sponsored by numerous churches and other organizations.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tons Of Food Collected During Annual ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ Drive
May 12, 2019
Escambia and Santa Rosa letter carriers joined forces Saturday to help Stamp Out Hunger in our community. In its 27h year, the annual food drive has grown to the largest national single-day effort that benefits millions of Americans who struggle to put food on the table.
Manna Food Pantries said Saturday evening that the donations collected during the drive will provide nearly 105,000 meals locally.
“Stamp Out Hunger is the most important food drive for many food pantries in the area,” said DeDe Flounlacker, executive director of Manna. “The food collected by the letter carriers is critical to our ability to feed our neighbors in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Every donation helps ensure the immediate needs of the hungry can be met in the coming months.”
The annual food driver is held on the first Saturday of May each year.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
May 12, 2019
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the period ending April 25 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Long and Allgood were on vessel patrol and conducted a resource and safety inspection on a recreational vessel with three occupants on board. During the inspection, six gray triggerfish were discovered. Current Florida law prohibits possession of more than one gray triggerfish per person. Additionally, one of the triggerfish was found to be shorter than the required minimum of 15 inches. The captain of the vessel was cited for possession of over the daily bag limit and undersized triggerfish.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Ramos was on water patrol in Santa Rosa Sound when he saw a recreational vessel returning from offshore. A boating safety and resource inspection was performed. During the inspection, Officer Ramos located three greater amberjack that the subjects harvested on their trip. The subjects were issued citations for taking and possessing greater amberjack during the closed season.
While on water patrol in East Bay, Officer Ramos saw a man harvesting oysters. A resource inspection was performed, and the man possessed 78 undersized oysters, which was 55% of his catch. The law only allows for 5% of oysters harvested to be less than three inches. The man was issued a notice to appear in court along with several warnings pertaining to the taking of oysters
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.