$7.2 Million In Safety Improvements Begin Next Month On East Nine Mile Road

April 20, 2022

The Florida Department of Transportation is set to begin work next month on a $7.2 million project to improve safety on a 2.3 mile segment of East Nine Mile Road.

Planned safety improvements between Chemstrand Road and Baldridge Road include:

  • Widening the turn lanes to include five-foot bicycle lanes in each direction.
  • Traffic signal upgrades.
  • Guardrail, pavement markings, and sidewalk enhancements.
  • Drainage improvements.
  • Milling and resurfacing all turn lanes and bicycle lanes.

FDOT said the project is anticipated to be complete by the Summer of 2023.

During construction, drivers and bicyclists can expect lane closures and traffic shifts. Lane closures will be limited to the 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. timeframe seven days a week. Pedestrian detours will be in place while sidewalk improvements are underway.

Comments

19 Responses to “$7.2 Million In Safety Improvements Begin Next Month On East Nine Mile Road”

  1. jerry on April 23rd, 2022 2:07 pm

    It is called perpetual construction on 9 mile road. When they finish one section, it time to redo another section.

  2. James on April 22nd, 2022 10:04 am

    It’s obvious the people advocating for pedestrian sidewalks along 9-mile Road have not actually experienced congested metro areas. Pedestrian transport is a viable option in traffic ridden, densely populated metropolitan areas. However, in the Pensacola and surrounding areas there are no significant geographic obstacles to encourage vertical development. Therefore, the area simply expands over more area. Pedestrian traffic strategies are most effective when the population density supports the majority of basic necessities within a 10-block radius of the pedestrian’s home. Simply put, people won’t walk unless traffic is so dense they can travel by foot less than 1/2 mile in any direction from their home. There won’t be viable pedestrian or mass public transportation until the area reaches the point of building vertically rather than expanding horizontally.

  3. mtndewey on April 21st, 2022 6:34 pm

    wonder who gets the kickbacks from these projects?

  4. Brian on April 21st, 2022 2:04 pm

    Lanes should be reduced, and separated bike and pedestrian infrastructure should be added.

  5. Jennifer on April 21st, 2022 10:08 am

    I have a question:
    We are moving to Pensacola to an apartment probably near 9 Mile Road. Are there any sidewalks currently along 9 Mile Road that a person on a mobility scooter could feel safe riding on? I get the impression there aren’t many sidewalks along 9 Mile. I think bicycle lanes would be too scary or dangerous. Thank you.

  6. lyjugo on April 21st, 2022 1:57 am

    if they have so much money to spend on improving highways, when are they going to fix gulf beach highway? we have been promised that something would be done for 30 years and nothing! the traffic on this road is heavy, dangerous and in need of being 4-laned. everyday we hear ambulances going down gulf beach highway. it needs to be widened. we pay the 1cent tax for highway improvements so why do they spend all of it on the east side of town?

  7. A north Escambia area resident on April 20th, 2022 10:32 pm

    To anyone who may concern, Nine mile road does not need more lanes as it will likely never pay for itself due to the low tax revenue per acre suburban sprawl. Also you think that adding more lanes will fix traffic in the long term? Not so as induced demand will make the widening useless in about 10 years. It’s a perpetual loop of expenditures on car dependent infrastructure that does the community no good. If anyone reads this, please reach out to your commissioners and representatives and demand for mixed use zoning and safe pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, you want to fix traffic, well then this is the the way to do so.

  8. Cantonment resident on April 20th, 2022 10:30 pm

    @ Jason Nine mile road does not need more lanes as it will likely never pay for itself due to the low tax revenue per acre suburban sprawl. Also you think that adding more lanes will fix traffic in the long term? Not so as induced demand will make the widening useless in about 10 years. It’s a perpetual loop of expenditures on car dependent infrastructure that does the community no good. If anyone reads this, please reach out to your commissioners and representatives and demand for mixed use zoning and safe pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, you want to fix traffic, well then this is the the way to do so.

  9. Worn Piece on April 20th, 2022 4:42 pm

    @ Denny: I’m not sure if you misread the article or maybe just commenting. Nine Mile Rd. is State Road 10 and Alternate US 90. Florida Dept. of Transportation will be in charge of this project.

  10. Denny on April 20th, 2022 3:14 pm

    I’ve noticed the County is a lot quicker at getting the job done. Remember 30 years ago when we were know as the “City of Orange Barrels?” Those were State projects and the first time I noticed the difference depending on who was doing the work. The State only cares about the Tallahassee area.

  11. Jlb on April 20th, 2022 2:28 pm

    Pcola winger..agree. just look at pine forest..interstate an wild lake rd area. Should have had road improvements BEFORE allowing all the new construction.

  12. TB on April 20th, 2022 11:55 am

    Well looks like we need to avoid that stretch of 90 until December 2024
    The impact on small businesses is irreparable.
    Reynolds hardware was destroyed due to Hwy 29 and Hwy 90 “Improvements” that drug on for years.

  13. Mike H on April 20th, 2022 11:45 am

    I agree with everything the other comments say. Dear lord if you are going to do it make it where you don’t have to work on it again for a few years. Bigger is better.

  14. retired on April 20th, 2022 10:13 am

    IT IS CALLED JOB SECURITY.
    Got to be able to pay (under the table) later to redo your work and expand.

    Don’t worry it is only tax payers money, not theirs.

  15. Hoosier Daddy on April 20th, 2022 9:46 am

    With considerations to traffic congestion, lack of traffic control, rude and unsafe drivers (the 45 MPH posted zone is only a suggestion,) the entire stretch of Nine Mile Rd. from Chisholm Rd. to University Parkway, has become a nightmare. I would not attempt to ride a bicycle in that area. As a result the side roads have become inundated with overflow traffic trying to escape that mess. However, there is a very short remnant of an old sidewalk near the Dodges store. I can only shudder to think of what problems a construction zone is going to cause. I agree with PcolaWinger…”too little, too late.”

  16. Denton on April 20th, 2022 9:19 am

    @ PcolaWinger
    There are openings on the engineering section if you want to apply.
    We need people like you as a visionary
    The state of Florida welcomes you.

  17. PcolaWinger on April 20th, 2022 6:51 am

    This county and state are always doing improvements that are too little too late. This corridor deserves a major overhaul and extra lanes added, but no, ignore the major issues and clean up the edges….our traffic engineers are absolute clowns with no vision…why else would Pine Forest Road be 1 lane northbound north of I-10? Incompetence, that’s how.

  18. Vince S. on April 20th, 2022 6:19 am

    Here we go again.

  19. Jason on April 20th, 2022 2:45 am

    That section of 9 Mile Road needs to be expanded to 3-lanes in each direction in addition to any bike path, sidewalks, or turn lane enhancements.