Reminder: This Route To Several North Escambia Schools Is Closed For Bridge Replacement

August 9, 2023

With the first day of school on Thursday, drivers are being reminded of a bridge closure on the primary route for many to reach several North Escambia schools.

Highway 4 is closed between Byrneville and Bratt to replace the Highway 4 bridge over Canoe Creek, potentially slowing traffic with a detour for drivers headed to Northview High, Ernest Ward Middle, Byrneville Elementary and Bratt Elementary schools.

Byrneville Elementary has added a bus stop in Bratt for families that live on the west side of the bridge; contact the school for more specific information.

The Florida Department of Transportation said the detour is expected to be in place for nearly a year for the $3,837,105 project 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.

A 330-day detour is planned 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 portion of Highway 4 closed since July 10 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 smaller Highway 4 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

2 Responses to “Reminder: This Route To Several North Escambia Schools Is Closed For Bridge Replacement”

  1. Willis on August 10th, 2023 3:24 pm

    To answer your question, sidewalk engineers.

  2. Northender on August 9th, 2023 9:51 am

    The Escambia Bay Bridges are over 2 miles long.
    Hurricane Ivan, in 2004, destroyed the both east and west bound twin bridges over Escambia bay. Two replacement bridges were designed and constructed even higher and better than before and the whole project designed and completed in a little over 2 1/2 yrs.

    Why do people have to detour almost a year for such a small span? 225 ft vs 2 spans of over 2 miles over deep water. Get all the construction material staged, don’t close the span until the day before you are ready to start…then Git ‘Er Done!

    I’m not an engineer, or a construction manager so very curious as to why it takes such a large amount of time and inconvenience to tax payers? Anyone know?