FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
November 13, 2016
Drivers will encounter traffic variations on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
· Interstate 10 (I-10) Widening from Davis Highway to the Escambia Bay Bridge- The outside lane of I-10 westbound, between Davis Highway (State Road (S.R.) 291/Exit 13) and Scenic Highway (U.S. 90/Exit 17), will be intermittently closed from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. the week of Sunday, Nov. 13 as crews place barrier wall.
· U.S. 29 (State Road (S.R.) 95) Widening from I-10 to 9 Mile Road- Alternating lane closures on U.S. 29 near the U.S. 29/Nine Mile Road overpass between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. will continue through the week of Monday, Nov. 14 as workers install barrier wall to accommodate the construction of the new bridge.
· Perdido Key Drive (S.R. 292) Resurfacing from the Alabama State Line to the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge- Intermittent and alternating daytime lane closures will continue Monday, Nov. 14 through Friday, Nov. 18 as crews perform shoulder reconstruction work. Traffic flaggers will be on site to assist with traffic control.
· Davis Highway (S.R. 291) Resurfacing from north of Fairfield Drive to north of Langley Avenue- Intermittent lane restrictions from Brent Lane to Langley Avenue continue through Monday, Nov. 21. Lane closures will be in effect from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
· Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Beulah Road to Pine Forest Road- Security Place will be closed to traffic from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11 as crews relocate utilities in preparation for roadway widening.
In addition, traffic will be intermittently reduced to one lane on Navy Federal Way, Security Place, Salt Grass Drive, and Foxtail Loop from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. the week of Monday, Nov. 14. Crews will be making asphalt repairs at those locations. Traffic flaggers will be on site to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
· I-10/ U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase 1- The U.S. 29 North to I-10 westbound ramp will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 13 and Monday, Nov. 14 as crews perform bridge work. Traffic will be detoured north to make a U-turn at Broad Street to access I-10 westbound.
· New Warrington Spur (S.R. 295) over U.S. 90 Routine Bridge Maintenance- North and southbound right, outside lane closed from 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10 to 5 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11 as crews perform routine bridge maintenance work.
· U.S. 90 over Marcus Creek Routine Bridge Maintenance- North and southbound right, outside lane closed from midnight Monday, Nov. 14 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15 as crews perform routine bridge maintenance work.
· U.S. 90 over AL & GC RR Routine Bridge Maintenance- North and southbound right, outside lane closed from 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14 to midnight as crews perform routine bridge maintenance work.
· 9 Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Pine Forest to U.S. 29- East and westbound traffic near Untreiner Avenue will be shifted into the new configuration as crews begin constructing drainage improvements along the south side of 9 Mile Road and Untreiner Avenue. Motorists traveling Untreiner Avenue between Nine Mile Road and Powell Street will encounter intermittent lane closures between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. starting Tuesday, Nov. 15 as crews lay additional asphalt for an upcoming traffic shift. Once paving is complete, traffic will be shifted eastward onto the temporary asphalt as crews begin drainage improvements on the west side of Untreiner Avenue.
· New Warrington Spur/Navy Boulevard (State Road (S.R.) 295) Routine Maintenance from Gulf Beach Highway to just south of U.S. 98- Alternating and intermittent lane closures from 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15 to 1 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16 as crews perform routine maintenance activities.
· U.S. 98 Routine Maintenance from the ramp from New Warrington to south of Pinewood Lane, just west of the Bayou Chico Bridge- Alternating and intermittent lane closures from 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16 to 1 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 as crews perform routine maintenance activities.
· Fairfield Drive (S.R. 727/295) Resurfacing from Mobile Highway to North Pace Boulevard- Intermittent and alternating lane closures on Fairfield Drive between Mobile Highway and North Pace Boulevard between 8:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. from Monday, Nov. 14 through Friday, Nov. 18 as crews perform paving operations.
· Bluff Springs Road over Pritchett Mill Creek Bridge Replacement- The road is temporarily closed as crews begin construction of a new bridge. Project is anticipated to be complete spring 2017.
Santa Rosa County:
· Pensacola Bay Bridge (U.S. 98) Bridge Replacement– The outside lane of U.S. 98 eastbound, on the east end of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Gulf Breeze, will be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, Nov. 14 through Wednesday, Nov. 16 as crews perform tree trimming work.
· I-10 Resurfacing from east of S.R. 87 to the Okaloosa County Line- Intermittent and alternating lane closures east and westbound between the S.R. 87 interchange and the Okaloosa County line from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 13 through Friday, Nov. 18 as crews perform construction activities. Motorists are reminded the speed limit is reduced to 60 MPH within the lane closure.
· U.S. 98 at Hoffman Drive in Gulf Breeze Median Safety Improvements- Motorists can expect a traffic shift and intermittent lane restrictions. There will be no lane closures allowed between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through the construction zone, and to pay attention for workers and equipment entering and exiting the work area. All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling in a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Blue Angels End Season With Pensacola Homecoming Show
November 13, 2016
Well over 100,000 people were on hand Saturday as the Blue Angels wrapped up their 70th anniversary season onboard Pensacola Naval Air Station.
The Blue Angels will spend their winter break in Central California, training for the 2017 season.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos by Perry Doggrell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Murder Suspects Surrenders
November 13, 2016
A Brewton man that was wanted in connection with a shooting death last week has surrendered to authorities.
Joseph Ryan Carter, 30, is now in the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center in Brewton after turning himself in Saturday night. He is awaiting transfer to the Mobile County Metro Jail.
Carter is accused of a November 10 shoot death.
The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Creola Police Department to assist in the investigation of a murder. MCSO was contacted approximately 2:19 am and responded to I-65 North just south of the General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge (commonly known as the “Dolly Parton Bridge”. When deputies arrived they found Joe Nathan Thomas, Jr. with gunshot wound to the back of his head.
A female witness on the scene stated that she had been in the vehicle with Thomas and Carter earlier that evening. She also stated that she and Thomas were outside the vehicle when she heard a gun shot and saw Thomas fall to the ground. The female witness fled into nearby woods and contacted authorities. At this time, the female witness is not being charged.
Legal Services Of Northwest Florida Offering Legal Help In Cantonment
November 13, 2016
Legal Services of Northwest Florida is offering free legal advice to eligible residents in Cantonment.
Legal Services will be at the Carver Park Resource Center at 208 Webb Street each Friday (except 11/25) from noon until 4 p.m. They can help with property issues, past due income taxes, and other civil legal issues (not criminal).
For more information or to receive an application, call (850) 432-8222.
Poor Cellular Service Delays Century Vote Totals
November 13, 2016
Update 9 a.m. Monday: The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office said Monday morning that the voting machine modems actually use Sprint.
Update 6 p.m. Sunday: The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office said late Sunday afternoon that the voting machine modems use Verizon.
When the polls closed Tuesday in Escambia County, the votes totals from nearly 80 precincts were available quickly from the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections website — except Century due to poor cellular service.
The voting machines use cellular modem to transmit encrypted information back to the Supervisor of Elections Office. But with poor cellular coverage at the Century, it was a no go getting a cellular connection inside the Century Town Hall. Elections officials even rolled the machine into the parking lot, trying different spots to get a quality cellular connection. But their efforts failed.
The machines store vote totals on an encrypted “data stick” (think USB thumb drive). The data stick was, under the guard of a Sheriff’s deputy, driven to the Molino precinct with better cellular coverage for transmission.
Finals tallies were also printed from the Century machine. The ballots themselves remained locked and sealed inside the machine.
Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford, speaking through a public information officer, declined to identity which cellular company’s service the voting machines use.
Pictured top: Elections officials attempting to find a spot with good cellular service in the Century Town Hall parking lot. Pictured inset: The Century precinct voting machine is rolled outside Tuesday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Argoes Drop Season Finale To West Georgia
November 13, 2016
The UWF football team saw its inaugural season come to an end with a 69-0 loss to 2-time defending Super Region 2 champion West Georgia before 6,088 fans at Blue Wahoos Stadium Saturday.
UWF (5-6, 3-5 Gulf South Conference) finished with five victories in 2016, tying the most by a first-year Division 2 program over the last 10 years. Florida Tech and New Haven each won five games in their first seasons.
The Argonauts completed the ultra-competitive GSC season tied for sixth place after being tabbed eighth in the preseason coaches poll.
UWF had three sellouts at Blue Wahoos Stadium and drew more than 31,000 fans to the downtown venue over five home dates. The 6,328 average attendance currently puts the program at 19th in the country. Each home game drew more than 6,000 with a football capacity of 6,288.
On Saturday, UWF finished with 138 yards of total offense. Graduate quarterback Kaleb Nobles surpassed the 3,000-yard mark with 72 yards on 11-of-23 passing. Freshman running back Chris Schwarz was the team’s leading rusher with 44 yards on nine carries.
UWG (7-4, 4-4) showed why it was the preseason pick to win the GSC, collecting 336 yards on the ground and 225 through the air. The Wolves scored 31 points off six Nobles interceptions and were 9-of-9 inside the red zone.
UWG scored on 11 of 14 possessions, including its first eight. The Wolves registered 21 points in the first quarter and 27 in the second for a 48-0 lead at the half.
UWF honored four seniors prior to the game and could return 20 starters and more than 70 other student-athletes when spring practice begins in March 2017.
End Of An Era: Escambia County’s Last Wooden Bridge Being Replaced
November 12, 2016
It’s the end of an era was as work is underway to replace the very last all-wooden bridge owned by Escambia County. The bridge has been deemed structurally deficient.
The bridge, over Pritchett Mill Creek on Bluff Springs Road, was constructed in 1956. Bluff Springs Road is closed until about March 2017 for the bridge replacement. There are no permanent residences located beyond the road closure, but Escambia River, camp access and the Escambia River Wildlife Area are cut off.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bondi Named To Trump Transition Team
November 12, 2016
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, an early supporter of newly elected President Donald Trump, was named Friday to a position on Trump’s transition team. Bondi was one of 16 people appointed to the Presidential Transition Team Executive Committee, according to a news release. Trump also made a series of other transition-related appointments, with incoming Vice President Mike Pence serving as chairman of the presidential transition team.
Tate Advances In 6A Playoffs With Win Over Gulf Breeze
November 12, 2016
The Tate Aggies beat Gulf Breeze 42-38 in the final seconds of the Region 1-6A Quarterfinals Friday night in Gulf Breeze.
“We have a special group. They (Gulf Breeze) are a heck of a football team. They didn’t quit either. We expected it to be a dog fight and it was,” Tate Head Coach Jay Lindsey said.
Tate took an early 7-0 lead that was quickly answered by Gulf Breeze to make it 7-7.
The Aggies came back on a quarterback keeper by Jake Henry to go up 14-7. Then, with the score now 14-14, the Aggies were headed back on top with a Sharmari Jones touchdown, 21-14. The Dolphins tied up 21-21 with a 76-yard touchdown run before taking a 28-21 lead.
Tate score again on a Henry to Corey Young touchdown pass and another quarterback keeper from Henry, 35-35.
Jones plunged in across the goal line with just 6.8 seconds on the clock for the game winning touchdown, 42-38.
“Kids don’t quit,” Lindsey said. “You’re down 14 third quarter, six minutes left keep playing football.
The Tate Aggies (9-2) will host the Navarre Raiders next Friday night in round two of the playoffs.
Look for additional photos later on NorthEscambia.com
Photo courtesy Jennifer Nagim for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
1A Playoffs: Northview Falls Short At Graceville
November 12, 2016
The Northview Chiefs were knocked out of the first round of the 1A playoffs on the road Friday night by the Graceville Tigers 43-14.
The Chiefs have not earned a playoff win since 2013.
Graceville took a 9-0 lead in the first with a safety and a touchdown. The Chiefs answered with a Luke Ward to Neikel Robinson 20-yard touchdown pass. With a good two point conversion, the Chiefs closed within one with 3:09 on the clock in the first quarter.
Ward found Robinson for another touchdown to take a 14-9 lead. But Graceville added three touchdowns for a 30-14 Tiger lead at the half. The Tigers went on to add additional touchdowns in the third and fourth — a total of 34 unanswered points for the win.
The Northview Chiefs ended their season at 6-5.
Pictured: Northview at Graceville. NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Amerson, click to enlarge.
