Naming Committee Selects Name For New Pensacola Bay Bridge

July 10, 2019

The Pensacola Bay Bridge Naming Committee has voted to name the new bridge over the bay after U.S. Air Force Gen. Daniel “Chappie” James.

James was a Pensacola native and the first African-American to ever reach the rank of a four-star general in the Air Force.

The current bridge is named the “Philip D. Beall Sr. Memorial Bridge”. Beall was a former state senator and served as a president of the Florida State Senate.

The final decision on the bridge naming will fall with the Florida Legislature. Sen. Doug Broxson has submitted legislation to name the new Pensacola Bay Bridge, the “General Daniel ‘Chappie’ James Jr. Bridge.”

“General James is an American hero. He represents the true spirit of the Panhandle and our values. I look forward to presenting this bill to my colleagues in Tallahassee next session and sharing with them the story of ‘Chappie’ James,” Broxson said. “This new bridge will stand as a memorial to our native son, and a truly great American, General Daniel ‘Chappie’ James.”

Comments

22 Responses to “Naming Committee Selects Name For New Pensacola Bay Bridge”

  1. Rufus on July 13th, 2019 10:15 am

    It’s the 3 Mile Bridge. Always has been, always will be. Yes, I’m a native Pensacolian.
    Not to takeaway from Gen. Chappie James, but it is what it is!

  2. Margaret cook on July 12th, 2019 10:51 pm

    I will always call it 3 mile bridge,that’s history,leave it like people know it.

  3. Margaret cook on July 12th, 2019 10:41 pm

    I have known the bridge as 3mile bridge and will always call it 3mile brige,why change it that like history.

  4. none ya on July 12th, 2019 12:59 pm

    YOU CAN CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT…
    I WILL CALL IT “THE 3 MILE BRIDGE”FOREVER

  5. Bob on July 12th, 2019 10:53 am

    Being born and raised here, I’ve always known this bridge as the 3 Mile Bridge. I never knew it had any other name. I was fortunate to be at the Fire House Drive-In when it opened in 1967 and was one of the first to drive across (don’t tell my mom). It’s nice and respectful to name roads and bridges after someone but we all know them for what they are, like I-10, or Hwy 29.

  6. Charlie Odom on July 11th, 2019 2:50 pm

    So…who else didn’t even know the name of the old bridge besides me? That must go to show how completely wasteful and retarded this money spent on a pointless name for a 3 mile long bridge, which the name fits nicely to.

  7. Valerie RANKINS on July 11th, 2019 11:05 am

    I remember years ago when I was a child, I saw a movie about a very large octopus climbing on a bridge killing people with his long legs. Now that I am older , I still think about that large Octopus. I love the name that was chosen for the bridge but that octopus will never go away because that’s how I see that bridge.

  8. gmp on July 11th, 2019 1:01 am

    We the locals will still always continue to call it 3 mile bridge. But I think naming it officially after General James is great. A native son who went down in American history. The current name is some politician most of us have never even heard of or remember much less care about.

  9. Luke Shows on July 10th, 2019 11:33 pm

    The committee made the best choice in my opinion. I wish General James had been Admiral James but if that is his only fault he still deserves the bridge to be named after him!

  10. StraightShooter on July 10th, 2019 10:15 pm

    It is the 3 mile bridge. The taxpayers of Florida paid for it. Unless someone wants to buy the naming rights it’s 3 mile bridge.

  11. Bob on July 10th, 2019 8:58 pm

    I personally do not like roads and bridges named after individuals. No matter whom you are and what you have accomplished t5-20 years from now very few will remember your name. Just as this one will always be remembered as three mile bridge.

  12. Jeff on July 10th, 2019 5:22 pm

    Everyone will call it Bridgey Mc Bridgeface.

  13. Ellen Melton on July 10th, 2019 5:15 pm

    For anyone who knows Pensacola, it will always be called 3-Mile Bridge. I’m sure the gentleman was a nice man, but the bridge should have been named for what it will be called.

  14. Cindy sliver on July 10th, 2019 5:02 pm

    I’m a true Pensacola native. I was born here and have never left. That bridge will always be 3 mile bridge. I don’t care how you dress it up.

  15. Tom on July 10th, 2019 4:32 pm

    What was the reason for changing the name? Was it not named after a good deserving advocate before? or just 3 mile bridge? Not saying the General is not deserving but why take from one? Plenty of landmarks that could have been used in lieu of taking from priors

  16. Bob C. on July 10th, 2019 1:36 pm

    No problems with the name, will always be called “3-Mile Bridge” as everyone knows immediately what is being discussed and where it is.

    Heard on a local radio show this morning about a very large bronze statue of Gen. James, on a pedestal a restored Phantom F-4 similar to what he flew in Vietnam and a small park area all being put together where the Old Pensacola “City of Five Flags” monument was for many decades, between East Gregory St. and Bayfront Pkwy. Radio folks weren’t real clear about who will PAY for that nor who would Maintain the area over the long haul.

    Kinda glad the issue of who to name the bridge after is Almost Settled pending the approval of the state and politicians.

    3-Mile Bridge with Arches and all the doo-dads. Be nice when it’s done and can’t wait for the bride to navigate the Round-A-Bout.

  17. Mia on July 10th, 2019 12:44 pm

    It should have been named 3-mile bridge since that is what it’s been called for so long.

  18. Tee bug on July 10th, 2019 11:25 am

    It figures

  19. miixster on July 10th, 2019 8:17 am

    Dolly Parton bridge was already taken

  20. Born in Pensacola on July 10th, 2019 7:58 am

    General Chappie James is a good name, but as a lifetime Pensacolian, it will always be the 3-mile bridge to me and my family.

  21. Preston Hardy on July 10th, 2019 7:53 am

    The committee has (at long last) made a good choice for the name of the new bridge.

  22. Sharon Blanton on July 10th, 2019 4:53 am

    I believe the committee made the best choice possible!! Thank you all for the smart choice!