Century Inks $1.257 Million Grant Agreement To Replace Freedom Road Bridge

October 4, 2023

We now have a timetable for the replacement of the failed Freedom Road Bridge in Century that has been closed for nearly four years.

And it may be nearly another three years before the first traffic crosses the bridge.

The 2023-24 Florida budget included $1,257,000 Legislative appropriation to replace a town-owned bridge on Freedom Road. Tuesday night, the Century Town Council voted to execute the funding agreement with the state.

A timetable calls for 30% of the design plans to be done by mid-January 2024 with the design mostly complete and ready for bids by May 2024. There are 273 days allocated for permitting. As of now, it’s expected construction will begin by May 2025.

The anticipated completion date is currently in June 2026.

On January 29, 2020, the town suddenly closed the bridge on Freedom Road, just east of Jefferson Avenue. Photos obtained by NorthEscambia.com a few days later showed the dangerous conditions that led to the emergency closure. Several pilings under the wooden bridge were no longer properly supporting the structure, and some of the pilings were split or had extreme deterioration (pictured left and below).

The closure turned Freedom Road into a cul-de-sac with one way in and one way out for residents, including the Camellia Gardens apartment complex.

According to the Legislative funding request by Rep. Michelle Salzman, replacing the bridge will improve emergency vehicle access, provide a shorter and more direct route to the nearest hospital in Jay for some residents, and provide better access for residents in the area.

It is anticipated that the $1.297 million will cover construction and other costs like engineering and surveying with no matching funds required from the town.

Photos/graphics for and by NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

7 Responses to “Century Inks $1.257 Million Grant Agreement To Replace Freedom Road Bridge”

  1. Well on October 4th, 2023 12:18 pm

    Thank you Ms. Salzman.

  2. Just Me on October 4th, 2023 11:53 am

    Until the town gets a bridge maintenance plan in place which involves annual inspections, I wouldn’t fund anything. There comes a time when a lack of maintenance of your assets should cut your pot of money off.

  3. retired on October 4th, 2023 10:46 am

    Would rather spend money on Chrimas lights

  4. SMW on October 4th, 2023 9:41 am

    This is stupid! All it is going to do is open it back up for people flying through there with their extremely loud radios and it opens it back up to all the drug drop off spots there at the bridge. I mean it is not like anyone living up there knows what is going on at that bridge but nobody does anything about it. Cater to all the crap is what Century and the Town Council do!!!! Ridiculous! We have streets that are in such bad shape they are eroding down to the dirt and the rocks are tearing up the vehicles. Use the money to fix the streets. This bridge being closed has been a blessing.

  5. Not again on October 4th, 2023 9:16 am

    I recall a few readers and writers being upset at FDOT for a $1 million traction and safety upgrade job at the I-10/I-110 interchange.

    It is amazing that this one bridge replacement is nearly the same price. Yet, the traffic count using the interchange and this bridge are light years apart.

  6. Ed on October 4th, 2023 8:42 am

    This is stupid waist of our tax money yes this bridge needs to be fixed and should have been fixed a month after closing and for a lot less .But as I was told in counsil meeting This is. Grant money

  7. Mary on October 4th, 2023 8:34 am

    I thought this was already taken care of. Wasn’t there funds to replace the bridge? What happened to that money? Did I miss something somewhere?
    Century just cannot function anymore can they?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News