Pensacola Bay Bridge Is Now Open

May 28, 2021

The Pensacola Bay Bridge is now open for the first time since it was damaged by Skanska barges during Hurricane Sally, restoring the vital connection between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze.

The majority of the bridge is open to four lanes of traffic (two in each direction) except for a two-lane, half-mile segment just west of the bridge’s arch while work to complete final repairs continues. The speed limit is temporarily set at 35 mph and emergency refuge areas are available on the bridge.

To quickly clear travel lanes following vehicle incidents FDOT’s Road Ranger Service Patrol will be stationed on each end of the bridge from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekends and major holidays. At other times, at least one unit will be on-call and available. Law enforcement will also be on-site 24-hours a day on both ends of the bridge to alert drivers about the temporary restrictions.

Consistent with the requirements within the construction contract, FDOT will continue to withhold payments of $35,000 per day until four lanes of traffic are restored to the entire southbound span of the Pensacola Bay Bridge. 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.

At this time, tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge are suspended through Sunday, June 6, 2021. Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) will soon discontinue service for the Route 61 detour across the Garcon Point Bridge. Normal schedules for Route 61 and Route 64 Beach Jumper will restart.

For a video animation exploring the traffic patterns on the bridge, click or tap here.

Pictured above: Traffic crosses the Pensacola Bay Bridge Friday morning. Pictured below: This 18-wheeler was among the first vehicles to cross the bridge Friday morning. Pictured bottom: The new flyover on the Pensacola end of the bridge. Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

11 Responses to “Pensacola Bay Bridge Is Now Open”

  1. Alex on June 1st, 2021 2:18 pm

    Wow great the bridge is open, hope they get all 4 lanes open soon so traffic will flow more betta.

  2. Victoria on May 31st, 2021 12:36 pm

    WEEEEEEEEEEEW

  3. TAX PAYER on May 30th, 2021 7:23 am

    suprized they didn’t turn it into a TOLL bridge. they could make alot of money

  4. Joy Bryant on May 30th, 2021 6:01 am

    I drove across it Friday after finding out on the news it had opened! I was going to the lodge to play bunco and was prepared for a HORRIBLE drive time on Avalon over the Garcon point bridge-BUT the drive across the bay bridge was unevenful and it felt soooo good! Glad I wasn’t going around 3 pm it was packed headed to the beach! It only has 2 lanes on the span that was hit – BUT beware as the bike and walking lane is much bigger

  5. HAPPY on May 29th, 2021 11:15 am

    GLAD FOLKS GET-N TO G B& BEACH BETTER OUR COUNTY & STATE COURT WILL BE BUSY A LONG TIME ? HOPE ALL EFECTED GET $ BACK OR MOST .?WORDING BY FDOT WITHHOLDING DOES SKANSKA GET $ BACK.

  6. Emily Fouche' on May 29th, 2021 6:54 am

    If I lived across the bridge, right now I’d be riding into Pensacola with the sun shining and singing “It’s a beautiful morning.”

  7. Tony on May 28th, 2021 2:05 pm

    Thank God

  8. Jeffrey on May 28th, 2021 1:53 pm

    Very cool. Well done!

  9. J.Larry Seale on May 28th, 2021 12:54 pm

    let hope the super glue and duck
    tape holds this time……….

  10. I’ll take it on May 28th, 2021 11:58 am

    I just drove over the bridge. Thank you, to all the hard “working people “ that have got us this far. Continue to show up and give a hard days work, maybe others will follow. Keep it going.

  11. aaron on May 28th, 2021 11:47 am

    BuT tHe BrIdGe WiLl NeVeR bE oPeN bY mEmOrIaL dAy…!!!!!!!!!!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News