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$2.375 Million Proposal Would Align Quintette Road At Highway 95A Intersection
February 5, 2024
Escambia County is set to seek funding to improve and align the intersection of Quintette Road with Highway 95A.
Currently, the east and west legs of Quintette Road are offset approximately 115 feet from one another, creating a hazard for the smooth flow of intersection traffic
There is no available right-of-way for a lateral shift on the west side of the intersection, but the east side has an approximate right-of-way of 100 feet, which could accommodate a northerly shift. Immediately adjacent to this intersection are a concrete plant, asphalt plant, a high-end vehicle restoration complex, a new residential development, and a proposed convenience store station on the northeast corner.
According to Escambia County, Quintette Road (CR 184) is a vital route for logging traffic from points to the northeast extending to the Florida/Alabama state line, to provide pulpwood to the International Paper Mill at Cantonment.
Quintette Road has also served as the only connection between Escambia and Santa Rosa County in the event of a catastrophic storm, as occurred in 2004 in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, when the US 90, I-10, and US 98 bridges were all incapacitated and incapable of carrying traffic.
A study to determine if a traffic signal is warranted was conducted at the intersection in Summer 2023 before the proposed addition of the convenience store.
A westbound right turn lane is also proposed to reduce delays with logging trucks turning north onto CR 95A. Preliminary sketches indicate the proposed improvements can be facilitated within the existing public rights-of-way, but a potential corner clip donation may be required of the Circle K property once the design is underway.
Circle K has, in an email to the county, obligated $250,000 toward the intersection improvements, with an official agreement under review for acceptance at an upcoming Board of County Commissioner meeting.
At a February 8 meeting, the Escambia County commission will consider applying for a Florida Department of Transportation Regional Incentive Program for grant funding for the intersection. If awarded, the grant will require $1.275 million in matching funds from Escambia County.
The total project, including grant funds, is estimated at $2.375 million. If the project funding is awarded, completion is estimated for October 2025.
Pictured top: The proposed alignment of Quinette Road at the intersection with Highway 95A. Pictured below: A Circle K is proposed at the intersection. NorthEscambia.com graphics, click to enlarge.
Comments
32 Responses to “$2.375 Million Proposal Would Align Quintette Road At Highway 95A Intersection”
I’m kind-of scared what all this new developments are going to do to my property taxes.. A lot of us lower income home-owners live out here to avoid the hustle & bustle of Pensacola, only for them to come up here and make things more busier & expensive. I’m not saying we should make it harder for non-locals to move up here, but I’m not-not saying that either!
Seems like such an exorbitant price. Unbelievable.
Again, I would like to say, we need a left hand turn lane at McKenzie and 95-A, heading South. Not only do I worry about getting rear ended, I also worry about when a train is traveling, the gates are down, so people traveling South on 95-A, have to get on the right shoulder, which can be a very dangerous situation, but there is no where else to be. And sometimes, that train is a very long train. People coming around that curve, usually fast, may not have the time to react to stop in time.
I have read these comments and truly believe there are a lot of good ideas. But one stands out greatly, Ward’s comment. Putting a curved lane in at this outrageous price can cause more problems or issues such as drivers injuring their necks to turn around to check traffic or simply overturning heavy trucks. But closing off Quintette Rd between Hwy 29 and Hwy 95A. Plus for safety still install a traffic light. Hopefully this intersection will be better than Hwy 90 and Hwy 99. I have lived here and traveled these roads out here since 1984 and these roads and intersections could be improved and I agree there’s needs to be a turning left on Hwy 95A south bound onto McKenzie because wreckis had occurred many of times there. With everyone’s thoughts of seeing the north end having all of these new neighborhoods, the roads conditions and safety are being overlooked. Keep posting your comments/concerns because one day this commissioner or another one will finally understand our concerns
I agree with B – and would be thrilled to see this happen because I travel 95a daily.
Aligning Quintette is critical and has been needed for years. Adding a stop light for that intersection, with lanes curving in both directions would be the best move for future growth. Experiencing improvements to that area is a good use of my tax dollars. And to the naysayers, I welcome a nice gas station!
Also, please put a left turn lane at McKenzie and 95-A. Coming around that curve going South is so dangerous. I cringe when I have to take 95-A, and have to make that left turn onto McKenzie, cause I live down there. I fear someone is going to rearend me.
That intersection has had no improvements for so long and is in need for upgrade to meet future growth, like all the housing developments in the area. I am not sure this is the best option, and a Circle K would just add to the confusion.
One scenario would be “what if Champion closes. 95A needs upgraded from 29 to Quintette and maybe even farther north because of future development. Quintette needs realignment and upgrade to 29.
This is one of the worst waste of taxpayer money ideas that has been proposed. I use Quintet Road regularly. Curving the road will only increase the accidents and create undue burden on the driver that use the road.
Leave it like it is and spend the money somewhere else that needs it more
Why in the absolute hell does it cost that much for that little bit.
A much better use of the money would be to repave Hwy 4 from Century to Hwy 97
This wouldn’t be a bad idea if they would keep the current west bound lane as a left turn lane. But making a sharp left turn will make accidents worse. Also the section of quintette from 95a to 29 need resurfacing badly.
CAN THEY KEEP ORIGINAL AREA FOR LEFT TURNS ?
Resident… i’m not saying the intersection doesn’t need improvement but what I am saying is that north east corner is the main direction that any log truck or semi turns and that is going to be almost impossible and I also know why they are doing this for the counties future design to come from interstate 10 bypass if you look back on past county record .
I agree with Wade, and I wonder why “Native” is blindly accepting the design because the engineers planned it. The engineers have limitations to adhere to that are probably set by politicians. Could “Native” be a politician?
Also consider this: to cross 95A you would need to swivel your neck and body by about 135° which is difficult for some people. Having the intersection cross at a 90⁰ angle will be more expensive but much safer. It will be much more expensive to change it later. This intersection will be much busier in the near future.
No problem, Native, and yes I am a civil engineer.
W Quintette should be realigned southward to line up with E Quintette. E Quintette already intersects with 95A at roughly 90 degrees and should be left alone as much as possible. W Quintette is the side coming in at a weird angle. Aquire the property to fix it once and fix it right, or it will always be goofy, like Beulah Rd northbound crossing 9 Mile.
This intersection has been OK for as long as I have been around (a long time). Now it is a good idea to change it to make large trucks, such as log trucks, make a very hard left turn from East Quintette to head south. Not to mention making it even closer to the curve in 95A just north of this intersection. I can’t tell you how many times I have pulled out heading south only to see a vehicle gaining on me because I was unable to see past the curve. Probably a few more options than this.
I think we should all count our blessings that the word ROUNDABOUT has not been tossed in as a potential solution.
I am concerned about the number of 18-wheelers that turn South onto 95-A being able to easily make that turn. While there are not as many as there once way, that can be a tricky turn for a large vehicle. Be an easier intersection to navigate if they relocated both roads so the intersection was as close to square as possible at 95A.
Now all the log trucks will have to occupy the right turn lanes in order to make the negative angle left turn. Apparently The proposed solution does not take this into account.
I agree with Wade’s comment regarding the proposal and the sharp angle the tractor/trailers, logging trucks or trucks with trailered livestock would need to accomplish. There’s not been a traffic study that we know of, and certainly it would not be at all appropriate to create additional hazards in this re-engineered intersection.
As a nearby resident and almost daily driver through this intersection, I can also see where traffic signals will become necessary for safety. The westbound Quintette traffic turning south onto 95A is only going to increase with the proposed CircleK gas station and convenience store, especially for their customers who need to travel south on 95A, and for northbound 95A traffic who turn left (east) onto Quintette particularly because of the curve in 95A just north of this intersection which blocks clear view of oncoming southbound 95A traffic.
I hope the reeingineering also remedies the issue of the inadequate soft shoulders along both roadways, and includes a substantial hard shoulder since the soft shoulders are exceptionally narrow (or non-existant in places) and in boggy soil with a high clay bank that prevents any motorist from safely pulling off the roadways when necessary.
Lastly, the residents who exit McKenzie and Coweta roads onto 95A north and south bound (just south of Quintette) would appreciate the traffic signals that would allow us a safer entry onto 95A.
Everyone should set back and take a deep breath. YES this intersection needs to be corrected. The county should look further than the end of their noise and build for the future for a change. In my opinion they should drop back on West Quintette and acquire enough property to the south to completely bring this portion in alignment with East Quintette road and build a proper intersection with turn lanes in all directions. Install a traffic light for safe crossing and turns and while you are at it. You should realize that Pensacola is building further north everyday and four lane this intersection reaching back at least one mile in all four directions. Just saying!
The plan awould be helpful, but then having a gas station/convenience store there would greatly cancel out the helpfulness and the safety of that intersection. My late mother used to have a saying back in the fifties when she saw a clear intersection: “Little corner, don’t you cry. You’ll be a filling station by and by.” Too much stuff going into this corner. Not very smart in my opinion.
When i read between the lines it screams Circle K. I think we all know our County Commissioners only listen to builders, not John Q Public. If Circle K and developers were not coming, we wouldn’t be reading this article. Make the developers of the residental swamp and Cirle K pay for it! Then we’ll see just how much this road will cost.
Been driving this intersection long enough to watch it go from a quick stop and immediatly go 95% of the time, to preparing to wait for a long while in order to be able to go.
1) There needs to be a turn lane coming from the South so traffic can enter the turn lane and drivers turning left (South) from Quintette can better identify when a long line of vehicles are turning right so they can go ahead and go – MAYBE a light needs to be installed as well for safety.
2) Quintette does need to be realigned before any more traffic is introduced or they will redo the entire intersection at much greater costs after the store is built – aka 5 points in Pace
3) The turn lane going North is a good idea for the trucks so they can see better looking South and they can get moving quicker and safer than making a 90 degree turn.
4) Need turn lanes from the North to turn West on Quintette and also to turn East on Quintette
Note – while the majority of the traffic count may turn South here, the 18 wheelers turning North do need help.
I with Wade on this. It’s going to be an absolute pain for longer vehicles coming off of E Quintette to have to cut it 45 degrees to go south. I use E Quintette every day and most of the traffic is flowing in that turn (either from the south turning east, or from the east turning south.) Either acquire the property to “S” curve W Quintette between Stacy and 95A or leave it alone.
I had no idea so many highway engineers were readers of this news site. Thank goodness we have your collective wisdom to second guess these plans.
Wow! As I understand it your the proposal is to turn eastbound Quintette north at 95A to meet westbound Quintette, correct? There are other options but not enough space to discuss them here. I see the commission already has a commitment from Circle K to invest $250K, how did that come about? Sounds like someone has discussing this issue before releasing it to the public. Either way the county just had eastbound Quintette resurfaced & things flowing quite smoothly for those of us using the intersection. Questions:
1. Who conducted the study in the summer 2023?
2. What are the numbers on traffic flow?
3. Is a traffic light next?
4. How many wrecks have occurred here over the past 5 yrs?
I use the intersection 2+ times a week, it’s rare a logging truck turns north onto 95A. The majority of the flow of traffic is to the south coming from the east & to the east from the south. This is a bad idea & proposal! The easiest would be to close off westbound Quintette to 29N, where the least traffic flow occurs but that would interfere with county plans for proposed subdivision development around 29N & Quintette. Westbound Quintette to 29N from 95A is in deplorable condition & basically residential. It also leads the very dangerous 29N intersection. This sounds like a bandaid to accommodate building the Circle K, an expensive bandaid that will not improve traffic flow or safety of the motoring public.
You can tell that none of these “planners” have ever driven a big truck or pulled any type of trailer. I would imagine that 85%-90% of the traffic coming off E. Quintette is turning south onto 95A headed toward Pensacola. A “cutback” like the one that is being proposed would be rough for a pickup pulling a 20-25 ft. bumper pull trailer, imagine the headache for a semi at the same intersection. If you want to align the intersection it should be done with an “S” curve on W. Quintette before the intersection. The only people that will benefit from this are the potential residents of the new subdivision, which should not be built in the Quintette swamp anyway.
Well, it would certainly make that intersection much safer & easier to negotiate for all traffic, whether turning off or onto Hwy 95A or just trying to go across Quintett. While not crazy about traffic lights willy nilly…. Traffic lights would actually help this intersection flow more smoothly & give each direction a safer chance to cross.
Good job! I am in favor, even though it means a mess for awhile.
Frankly, this is a waste of tax payer’s money. Anyone using Quintette Road knows about this intersection. ABSOLUTELY no one needs this to be fixed. They need to stop “finding” things to improve, and actually improve what people are asking for. It’s not hard to just listen to the public. This is irrelevant.
“Frank wrote “Ok… let me get this straight… they are going to curve the road away to the north away from 95 % of the traffic that turns going south on 95A. Who comes up with these ideas”
Guess what. Your car will still burn left or right, north or south. Use the blinker thingie to indicate.
Frankly, it’s a 100% improvement in this design over what is there now.
Ok… let me get this straight… they are going to curve the road away to the north away from 95 % of the traffic that turns going south on 95A. Who comes up with these ideas. 95% of the traffic goes to and from Cantonment not hwy 29 or from the north. Stupid design.