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Major Project Will Totally Rebuild The Entire I-10, Highway 29 Interchange
July 5, 2023
A major reconstruction project is planned to begin in 2024 to completely rebuild the I-10 and Highway 29 interchange.
It will include construction of all-new I-10 travel lanes and about a dozen bridges over six years.
The project includes the following shown on the map above (the numbers correspond to the map, click to enlarge):
- Construction of six new main lanes on I-10 through the center of the interchange, requiring six new bridges.
- Five existing I-10 bridges will be converted and one new bridge will be constructed for ramps.
- Remove the I-10 loop ramp from I-10 to northbound Highway 29.
- Construct extended two-lane ramps east of the interchange.
- Replace the existing North Palafox and CSX bridges to accommodate widening of I-10.
- Modify the Highway 29 at Dairy Road intersection to allow eastbound and westbound traffic to I-10 from Diamond Dairy.
- Construct stormwater ponds (shown in blue on the map above).
The first steps of planning the massive project started in November 2005. Construction related contracts are expected to be awarded by the end of this year.
Noise walls will be constructed along I-10 to separate the roadway from the Hope Manor, Oak Forest/Lost Creek, Robins Ridge and Willow Tree Acres neighborhoods.
FDOT just completed a $6.3 million project to resurface Highway 29 from Brent Lane to north of I-10, upgrade traffic signals and make Americans With Disability Act improvements.
NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Comments
30 Responses to “Major Project Will Totally Rebuild The Entire I-10, Highway 29 Interchange”
Six years? SIX?
Yay! 10 more years of traffic jams, jacked up roads and general chaos.
Several of your comments involve Pine Forest Rd, and I agree with you. The congestion there definitely needs to be fixed. However, since this has been in the planning stage since 2005, almost 20yrs, I doubt that the issue was as critical then as it is now.
Furthermore, if it has taken almost 20yrs to plan, what’s the chances of construction being completed in 6yrs? Hwy 29 will become the new I-4, with neverending construction.
Problem is, when all the construction is complete, it won’t be adequate because it was planned so long ago.
What about the North End of the County ???? Oh that’s right out of sight out of mind… smh
If FDOT works as hard on this as they do on the mess they have made in Century, it will be sixty years before it’s finished and not six. In Century they work two weeks then take four months off.
PINE FOREST FIRST OMG
Pine Forest Road…AUGH!!! What were they thinking?
this project is so LONG overdue !!! I am 63 years old and have seen so many proposed road improvements in Escambia County stalled, delayed, cancelled over the years that have greatly slowed infrastructure development. Many years ago there was talk of extending I 110 to north of Nine Mile Road and that never happened – that project would have greatly eased traffic from Molino on down and would have helped grow UWF with quick access to the downtown and airport. Other major projects that were delayed for years were the extension of Langley to Davis Hwy and the widening of Creighton and Olive Roads…. but the I 110 extension and the US 29 I 10 interchange have been priorities for modernization for > 40 years and continually stalled or modified – but from early on in the 60/70’s the Feds said the design of having southbound 29 traffic merge into the fast lane of I-10 which occurs in a dramatic curve was a horrible engineering design – but I welcome any all improvements that occur to Pensacola infrastructure
The plan here contains the removal of both of the left lane merges from 29 to I 10. They should never have been put in. They’re dangerous. The numbered explanations and map explain it clearly.
Saw lots of survey crews working around the Pine Forest Interchange the last few weeks; hopefully they can get the reverse diamond interchange put in without too much difficulty! Hwy 29 really isn’t too bad, I think they did some work on the Hwy 29 interchange around 2010 already.
The Pensacola Area Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), chaired and governed by local elected officials and staffed by the Emerald Coast Regional Council, in a cooperative effort with Escambia, Santa Rosa, and part of Baldwin County and FDOT and ALDOT decides upon these projects. They are prioritized in a VERY public process and public involvement is frequently solicited. Prioritization lists of projects are published annually.
For an Interstate Highway, it is likely 90% of the funding is federal and 10% state.
If you want to comment on the prioritization process, you should contact the TPO.
Fix Pine Forest first! Where do they think all the traffic is going to go while the tear down bridges on 29 and Old Palafox? Really county and state planners, where did you get your education and do you not have any common sense? Have you drove on any of these roads at peak times?
Totally agree…some huge work needs to be done on Pineforest an from the interstate to 9 mile. Its already a nightmare..an going to get worse…
Yes,yes indeed that interchange was redone some 15 years ago. I know those that remember it seems like only yesterday that’s because of all the traffic congestion it caused on hwy.29 for some 5 odd years it took to complete.
Well let’s hope they won’t block up the main artery to Pensacola for another 5 years. Let’s also hope that they take into consideration the west bound on ramp to I10 that is a blind on-ramp with precious little room to merge into the PASSING lane of I10. I’ve seen so many close calls on that ramp then I can shake a stick at!
I can’t believe they are willing to leave the heavy traffic congestion at the Pine Forest off/on ramps in leu of changing one that already works but I guess that is the way the bureaucrats do “if it works fix it, if it doesn’t then it’s working as intended”
It does not look like they are ripping out the new work they just completed. This is more I-10 work then Hwy 29. Replacing bridges that are old and continuing the widening of I-10 from a few years ago.
They also need more East and West bound lanes from Hwy 29 past Exit 5. The traffic is always congested thru that area
REGARDING:
“Thank you Governor for thinking ahead….”
There is a fair chance our governor has not been involved in this project whatsoever — definitely not back in 2005.
The man has been concentrating on other things unrelated to being a mere governor. This can be good because it means he’s not paying attention to what actually does need to be done and maybe leaving it in the hands of those who are actually interested in doing what’s necessary for the state of Florida.
David for flying cars or carpets
Pine Forest Road exit is a nightmare and the construction of all the apartments on Pine Forest and Mobile Highway bringing even more traffic, will make it nearly impossible to use!!!!! Not brought to anyone’s attention???? What’s wrong with you people????
FDOT…You guys absolutely suck! When will this ever end?!?
Derek
Instead of putting blame on the Governor of Florida (which the problems were well in place before he was elected), would you think it is beneficial to submit to his office your personal and or professional opinion on how to eliminate or lessen the congestion.
Could same a substantial amount of money. Your act of kindness will be heard by others and they too can pay it forward.
Something to think about.
Have a lovely day Derek.
Here’s an idea. Hire the engineer and road crew from Philly. They got 95 completed quickly and safely.
@Derek
Doubt the governor had any input on this project.
How about Pine Forest Road? With all that construction on the west (apartments, houses, restaurants etc…) at Ransley Station. Come on 1 lane going south. 2 lanes going north. It is already impossible to travel that road. Got to love our county and engineering to build before the roads can handle any more traffic…
AGAIN?
Find an alternate route quick! 6 years to complete? Post alternate routes and finish it in 3.
Didn’t they just re-do that interchange?
Thank you Governor for thinking ahead and updating our infrastructure! Interstate 10 is the ONLY East/West corridor running from one side of our great country to the other. Also we all know the entrance ramps from 29 are too sharp and poorly designed with no acceleration lanes!
Whenever an area experiences growth like ours has, the roadway infrastructure always struggles to keep up. Does no good to complain. Bet you won’t complain about how much your home value has increased if you’ve lived here 30 plus years.
CARLO is gonna be mad when they replace the CSX bridge. His name will finally come down after 30+ years.
Heeeeere we go with yet MORE road construction. This is a never ending nightmare here and it’s going to do nothing more than cause accidents for the ten YEARS it will take to make it happen. The nine-year(mile) road project that was finished only to start up again is a classic example. What are the plans for Pine Forest Rd now that the mess between 9-Mile and I-10 is just going to get worse? Oh, let’s just kick that one down the road a little further to waste money on something that they just “fixed” a few years ago at the 29 interchange. Stupid, stupid, stupid!! I wonder whose wallet is getting padded on this one? Sure not the taxpayers.