Highway 4 Canoe Creek Bridge Set For Replacement; Detour Planned For 330 Days

November 4, 2022

Work is expected to begin in early 2023 to replace the Highway 4 bridge over Canoe Creek, about halfway between Byrneville and Bratt, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. A detour will be in place for nearly a year.

This year’s state budget included $3,837,105 to replace the structurally deficient bridge  The bridge and roadway are owned by Escambia County, but the work will be done under a locally funded agreement with FDOT.

For more photos, click or tap here.

Thursday night, the Escambia County Commission approved a resolution to support a temporary road closure for Highway 4 and establish a detour for an estimated 330 days. The detour from Highway 4 to Bratt Road (the eastern end of Bratt Road closer to Century) to Pine Barren Road, to Highway 4 (near Northview High School).

The county said the road closure will reduce construction time and costs, minimize the purchase of rights-of-way or construction easements, and will minimize wetland impacts.

The portion of Highway 4 to be closed is 4.14 miles; the detour will be 5.67 miles. The average daily traffic count is 1,800 vehicles per day.

The bridge constructed in 1942 is 225 feet long and has wood supports, some of which were failing and were later reinforced with steel.

A start date has not been determined; we’ll update you here on NorthEscambia.com when it is announced.

A smaller bridge located just to the east of the Canoe Creek bridge is not set for replacement at this time.

For more photos, click or tap here.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

9 Responses to “Highway 4 Canoe Creek Bridge Set For Replacement; Detour Planned For 330 Days”

  1. STOLE PROPERTY on November 8th, 2022 6:50 pm

    I’m so glad most of you people who commented don’t have to worry about the crazy drivers on the road nor do you have to worry about losing some of your land that county just takes like the own it and not pay the good people that are losing value of it. Thanks County for notifying the people who own land for stealing the property. you should pay for what you take. same as to anyone who buys land. but you get it free. This shows that the system does not work. Not to mention how many accidents have happened cause people don’t slow down or due to drunk driving. You know that you can replace the bridge without putting a two- lane highway in here.

  2. Bratt Hwy 4 resident on November 7th, 2022 9:39 pm

    “The county said the road closure will reduce construction time and costs, minimize the purchase of rights-of-way or construction easements, and will minimize wetland impacts.”

    That part about the purchase of rights-of-way or construction easement.

    I live on this hwy and near the bridge and nobody has approached me about these possibilities, so sure hoping not to be blind sided by any of this! Residents have a right to know what’s going to happen that might affect their personal property! Thx

  3. Willis on November 5th, 2022 8:18 am

    Don’t be silly Mr. Nobody……..

  4. Mr. Nobody on November 5th, 2022 6:57 am

    Should we not be grateful that they are replacing the bridge before it collapses? Why not turn the complaining down and turn the positivity up? The world is darkened by the counsel of the unwise.

  5. Crystal on November 5th, 2022 12:19 am

    I don’t see why they cant put in a temporary road for traffic like they did when they worked on a bridge on 97. Yes I realize 97 was a state highway and heavily travelled, but isn’t this road also heavily travelled? And with rain delays and other delays it will be over 365 days….just my opinion.

  6. Chuck Lavoie on November 4th, 2022 10:10 am

    One has to wonder how the railroads can replace a similar sized bridge in a month or less but the county government takes nearly a year to do so.

  7. Just listening on November 4th, 2022 7:50 am

    Oversight – Yes!
    Nikki – Yes!

    These bridge replacements are long overdue and the road and shoulders certainly need help by widening to bring them to a better safety standard.

  8. Oversight on November 4th, 2022 6:10 am

    While they are at it, do both of the twin bridges. Also, the entire roadway from Century to the high school and just west of the Bratt crossroads to Hwy 97 needs a major safety upgrade by widening.

  9. Nikki on November 4th, 2022 5:17 am

    Would certainly makes sense to go ahead and do both bridges at the same time. Wish they would widen them, as well as Highway four from 29 all the way to Bratt.