FDOT: We Still Expect To Open The Pensacola Bridge The Week Of May 31

April 16, 2021

The Florida Department of Transportation said Thursday that repairs on the Pensacola Bay Bridge are still on track to be completed by the week of May 31.

As FDOT contractors install and repair the final five trophy pieces on the Pensacola Bay Bridge, considerable efforts have shifted to the construction and completion of the remaining bridge decks on the structure.

Deck constructions consists of several key phases including:

  • Placement of concrete beams. During this process, precast beams are transported to the bridge site, and erected onto the abutments and piers.
  • Installation of stay-in-place forms and rebar (reinforced steel). The stay-in-place forms will allow the forms to remain in place when the concrete is poured, eliminating the need to remove the forms ultimately accelerating construction.
  • Pouring and leveling concrete. Concrete is poured in the forms and a machine levels and smoothes the concrete surface to ensure that the top of the slab is at the correct elevation or grade.
  • Curing of the deck. Curing keeps the concrete damp or moist until the hardening of concrete is complete, and strength is attained.

The targeted reopening of the bridge remains the week of May 31, 2021. FDOT is regularly reviewing the contractor’s schedule of the entire Pensacola Bay Bridge Project with the anticipated completion date for all improvements currently scheduled for January 2022.

Motorists should continue to use all available detour routes, which include the Garcon Point Bridge and State Road 87. At this time, tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge are suspended through Sunday, May 9, 2021. Commuters can also use the Escambia County Area Transit’s (ECAT) temporary bus route travel between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze free of charge.

Comments

8 Responses to “FDOT: We Still Expect To Open The Pensacola Bridge The Week Of May 31”

  1. Elaine Miller on May 7th, 2021 6:47 am

    Stop complaining! This bridge rebuild is a modern day construction miracle. Since when has any roadway, bridge or even pot hole been fixed so quickly. FDOT has been busting there butts through terrible weather that has tried to hamper completion, but yet…. they work on. Thank them, because if this bridge was located in New York or California the buerocrats would still be sitting around the table halting repair because of any lame excuse they can make up. Florida is leading the way. Be patient and give the construction workers a brake!

  2. Roberta on April 21st, 2021 7:03 am

    Be so happy when it does cause traffic by my house is bumper to bumper and people are so rude..and then mayb I can ride my horse down the rd like I allways have

  3. James Lyons on April 17th, 2021 2:05 pm

    Just a question… As I remember the storm track, it caught us ALL by surprise! I’m a trucker, and I left my wife behind as I headed to the Northeast. Then Sally stalled and turned right. I couldn’t get back in time to save her from 100+ mph winds at the house. Why is Skanska being held to a different standard from the rest of us? Sally was SUPPOSED to impact New Orleans up until 48 hours before it changed its’ mind.

    Look, I live in Beulah, FL, and my commute is not affected by Sally. I am SOOO sorry for those of you who have been affected by having to make that long detour across the Garcon Point Bridge, but does EVERYTHING in this world require a scapegoat to atone for your inconvenience?

    Sorry folks, but this storm’s timing sucked ( Is there ever a GOOD time for this?). And we ALL got caught by surprise. Skanska’s “lack of preparation” may have more consequences than most, but they are no less human or reliant on the forecasts than the rest of us.

    If you live in this area, you assume the same risk as everyone else. We are ALL subject to the whims of Mother Nature.

  4. observer on April 17th, 2021 12:04 am

    2 total lanes for a while.
    Then 4 lanes.
    Then 6 lanes final.

  5. Panhandler on April 16th, 2021 7:44 pm

    10 to 1 it ain’t gonna happen.

  6. AL on April 16th, 2021 7:16 pm

    Don’t forget the bike/walk lane and also the fishing pier. They destroyed those too.

  7. chris on April 16th, 2021 2:47 pm

    “Expect to.” I “expect” to retire someday too, but…..

  8. Julia Pearsall on April 16th, 2021 11:38 am

    Opened by the “week of May 31.” Does that mean by June 5th?