Failed Century Bridge Closed For Three Years; Now Two More Bridges Now Have Issues
February 21, 2023
A Century bridge that was near collapse has now been closed for over three years, and now the town is looking at repair issues with two more bridges.
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 above).
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.
Now, two more bridges are facing washout issues.
For more photos, click or tap here.
On Jefferson Avenue, just north of Freedom Road, there’s a large area washed out between two large culverts that travel under the concrete structure. Our photographs show a void that extends for several feet under the sloped concrete side of the bridge, but it’s unclear if the void extends under the concrete roadway deck. Mayor Ben Boutwell said the bridge is believed to be safe, but no certified bridge inspection has been done.
And on Jefferson Avenue over Mill Creek, near the old sawmill, there’s another washout problem according to the town.
Boutwell said the town is working to find the funding necessary to make the repairs to all three bridges, if possible.
Repair cost estimates for the Freedom Road bridge are over $1 million — funds Century does not have on hand. Their entire budget for the town and operations like gas and water is just $5.8 million for the entire year.
Boutwell said the town has asked the local legislative delegation to fund two projects — repair the Freedom Road bridge for $1 million plus and $1 million for repairs to the water well that serves Century Correctional Institution.
“But we’ve made it clear that if they can only do one, the water well is the priority,” the mayor said. In August 2022, the well suffered a “catastrophic” failure, forcing the town to switch to an emergency connection to Central Water Works. That has cost the town $52,952 as of the end of February.
The town is also seeking Community Development Block Grant funds for all three bridges.
“We might be able to retroactively apply for Hurricane Sally funds that are available,” the mayor added.
Freedom Road Bridge
In January 2020, Mott McDonald engineers conducted a limited inspection of the bridge and found the following problems:
- A backwall has deflected toward the water, pushing piles toward the water and causing them to rotate, split and no longer bear weight.
- One bridge piling has a split at the top of the pile, but it is providing some support.
- A second pile has been pushed completely out and no longer supports the bridge.
- A third pile has split, and only half the pile is providing support.
- A fourth pile has deterioration with only a three-inch diameter section remaining about six feet below the bridge. The outer pile section has broken.
- There is soil loss behind a backwall.
- There is a large void underneath the roadway on the east side the bridge
“We cannot predict when the…backwall lateral loads will completly fail…causing the bridge the collapse,” engineer Bart Hendricks wrote in his report. “We also cannot predict when the roadway over the void on the southeast corner will collapse”
The age of the bridge was not provided to the engineer, but he determined the timber pilings may be at or beyond the typical life of 30 years. “A better long-term financial decision may be to replace this structure rather than perform repairs,” Hendricks wrote.
Mott McDonald engineers also recommended that the town perform bridge inspections for all bridges that are not inspected by the Florida Department of Transportation. Those inspections are required every two years for longer bridges by the Federal Highway Administration. The town has not moved forward with the inspections.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Pictured top and bottom photos: The closed Freedom Road bridge. Pictured inset and first three photos below: The Jefferson Avenue bridge just north of Freedom Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Children’s Trust Director Wants More North Escambia Involvement
February 21, 2023
Monday, the executive director of the Escambia Children’s Trust (ECT) told the Escambia County School board that they will make more of an effort to get more North Escambia agencies involved before their next funding cycle.
Last week, ECTawarded $5,104,482 in grants to 19 service providers for out-of-school time programming. Only two were located in District 5, receiving a total $612,601.
“We could only fund what we got applications for, so we recognize that we need to do more outreach,” ECT Executive Director Tammy Greer said.
Agencies that provide after-school and summer educational programs for children were invited to apply for the funding.
“When you go north of Nine Mile Road, there’s nothing there outside of school for the children. We really want to find the programs that are there that are serving children so that we can make them aware that we exist, because we didn’t get applications from them,” she said.
“I want to say this correctly,” Bill Slayton, District 5 board member said. “You may not have found education programs, but we play a lot of ball north of Nine Mile Road .We have a lot of ballparks and a lot of activities going on. Those parents are readily available to get their students to those activities and events. I don’t know what can spin off from those, but I’m very curious what might could spin off to help students that are doing and participating in other activities.”
Greer and Slayton plan to continue their discussions.
Escambia County students will not be limited to attending one of the ECT programs in their area; they can attend any program in the county.
The two North Escambia programs funded by ECT in District 5 are:
- The Urban Development Center and their program “YouthFirst Century” plans to serve 750 youth ages 11-18 over a three-year period. The program will be held at three locations within the Century town limits. $397,556 for the first year.
- Central Gulf Coast Freedom Schools and their program “Expanding Summer School” plans to serve 500 children ages 5-14 over a three-year period. The program will take place at the University of West Florida campus. $215,045 for the first year.
Candidates To Qualify This Week For Century Council Special Election
February 21, 2023
This is the week for candidates to qualify for a special election for two seats on the Century Town Council.
Two council seats were left vacant in January because no candidate ran for them last year, and interim council members were appointed.
Qualifying will be open from noon February 21 until noon February 24 at the Supervisor of Elections Office or the Century Town Hall on February 22. Any registered voter that lives in the town limits can seek election and pay a $50 qualifying fee.
If there are three or more candidates for any one of the seats, a primary election will be held on Tuesday, March 14. Any necessary runoff and the general election will be held on Tuesday, March 28.
Disc Golf Added A Travis M. Nelson Park In Bratt
February 21, 2023
Escambia County Parks and Recreation recently added two new disc golf practice goals at the Travis M Nelson Park in Bratt.
The 40 acre park also has two large covered pavilions with picnic tables, a playground, seven-tenths of a mile walking track, full basketball court, exercise equipment, softball/baseball practice fields, a little free library and free high speed Wi-Fi.
The park is named in honor of Marine Lance Cpl. Travis M. Nelson, who was killed in 2011 while serving in Afghanistan. A monument stands in his honor.
Travis M. Nelson Park is located on West Highway 4 at Bratt Road, just west of Northview High School. It is open from sunrise to sunset.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos, Kazoo Read To Escambia Westgate Students
February 21, 2023
Kazoo and the Pensacola Blue Wahoos recently visited Escambia Westgate School to visit with students. Kazoo and the Wahoos read to 11 classes as part of Kazoo’s Reading Program. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Applications Open For Escambia Summer Youth Employment Program
February 21, 2023
Applications are now open for the Escambia County Summer Youth Employment Program.
Applications will be accepted until Friday, March 10 at 3 p.m. Online applications are available at MyEscambia.com/youthemployment. Physical applications will not be available. Incomplete applications or applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
The program is open to Escambia County youth ages 16-24 interested in an opportunity to receive paid work experience this summer. Qualified youth who are accepted into ECSYEP will be able to work up to 30 hours a week, with positions available in various county departments along with the Escambia County School District, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector’s Office and Supervisor of Elections Office. Participants will also receive job readiness training prior to job placement as well as post-employment briefings.
Last summer, over 150 youth participated in the program, working in county departments including Public Works, Public Safety, Escambia County Area Transit, West Florida Public Libraries and more.
Limited positions are available. Requirements for the program are as follows:
- Must submit complete application packet by prescribed deadline.
- Must be a resident of Escambia County, Fla. at the time of application and for the duration of program participation.
- Must complete up-front job readiness preparatory training classes.
- Must complete post-employment debriefing sessions.
- Must not have any felony convictions.
- If enrolled in school, must submit enrollment verification.
- Must be between the age of 16 years old and 24 years old at the time of enrollment.
- Must show proof of identify (State issued Driver’s License or State ID Card).
- Must show proof of address.
- Must meet hiring criteria of the temporary employment agency.
- Must submit completed application with all supporting required documentation to be considered
- Must attend the end of the Summer Youth Program Award Ceremony.
For additional information, call Neighborhood and Human Services at (850) 595-3123 or (850) 595-3130.
File photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Highway 29 Crash
February 20, 2023
One person was injured in a single vehicle rollover crash Monday morning near Molino.
The driver of a small Toyota car lost control on Highway 29 at the Victory Assembly of God Church, just south of Barrineau Park Road. The vehicle left the roadway and overturned, coming to rest upright.
Escambia County EMS transported the injured person to a Pensacola hospital.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Grad, UWF Student Maggie Brown To Compete On Jeopardy! For Second Time
February 20, 2023
A Tate High School graduate and current University of West Florida junior Maggie Brown will compete on Jeopardy! for a chance to win $100,000.
The Jeopardy! High School Reunion Tournament will air February 20 to March 9, with Brown appearing on the March 2 episode.
While she was a 14-year old sophomore at Tate, Brown reached the quarterfinals in the 2018 “Jeopardy! Teen Tournament”. Today, those bright young minds are older, wiser, and ready to return to the stage for a first-of-its kind twist on the traditional College Championship format. Now 27 former teen contestants, now current undergraduates or recent college graduates, will reunite to face off in a 14-day special event with a $100,000 grand prize and a spot in the Tournament of Champions on the line.
“We didn’t want to lose that sort of college energy (this season),” said Jeopardy! Executive Producer Michael Davies. “We knew we had these 27 players who are all of college age who come from our existing Jeopardy! community, so this was a great opportunity to bring them back.”
Brown’s Jeopardy! episode airs at 6 p.m. on March 2 on WALA Fox 10.
Brown was the Tate High School Class of 2021’s co-salutatorian, graduating with a GPA of 5.55. She was on the 2020 Senior Homecoming Court, was appointed to the 2021 Senior Hall of Fame, and volunteered as assistant coach of Ransom Middle School’s Academic Team.
At UWF, she is Honors Council service chair, secretary of the senate in the Student Government Association, continues to work at Ransom Middle School’s assistant academic team coach, is an intern at the Gulf Coast Diplomacy Council, and works at the UWF library.
Maggie Brown’s older sister, Samantha Brown, was the Tate High Class of 2017 valedictorian. Samantha Brown appeared on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” in 2018.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Commits $30K For Fiber Expansion In Century Industrial Park
February 20, 2023
Escambia County has committed up to $30,000 in economic development funds to provide fiber internet for a new town industrial park tenant.
The Town of Century has approved a “conceptual” lease with a foreign-owned company to establish their first domestic manufacturing and warehouse distribution facility serving the oil and gas industry in what is commonly known as the Helicopter Technology Building.
Escambia County will pay Uniti Fiber to connect the town-owned building to Uniti’s existing fiber access point on Industrial Boulevard near the Escambia County EMS post. The 96-county fiber optic cable will be buried to the building and terminated inside. The new industry will be responsible for monthly service costs.
The $30,000 will come from Escambia County funds already budgeted for Century economic development. In the future, the fiber could serve any additional companies that locate in the industrial park.
The company has agreed to pay the appraised rental value of the building to the Town of Century — $7.833.33 a month or $94,000 annually. The lease will continue for five years with a 3% annual increase beginning in the third year. The company will accept the building “as-is” and pay all utilities, maintenance, insurance and taxes.
The conceptual lease, drafted by the town’s lawyer, will return to the town council for a final town approval as early as Tuesday. The company hopes to begin warehouse operations by the end of February with a forthcoming expansion into manufacturing serving the oil and gas industry.
According to FloridaWest, the company plans to hire five people initially, with a goal of 10 employees by the end of the year with an average salary of $46,570 — the average wage in the Pensacola area.
Pictured: The Century Industrial Park sign on West Highway 4. Pictured inset: Century is set to lease this town-owned building in the industrial park. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Building Services Workshop To Be Held Tuesday At Molino Library
February 20, 2023
Escambia County Building Services will host a workshop Tuesday night at the Molino Library.
The workshop is open to the public and will cover several topics to help citizens make informed decisions when deciding to hire a contractor or handle a project themselves.
During the workshop, attendees will learn about contractor requirements, verification of licensure, how to file a complaint against a contractor and more. Tim Tolbert, Escambia County Director of Building Services, will also give a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.
The workshop will take place from 6-8 p.m.