Here Are The Road Construction Delay Spots For The Remainder Of The Week
August 20, 2024
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads and project in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities this week.
Escambia County:
- Interstate Circle Bridge Over Eight Mile Creek – Interstate Circle is closed at the Eight Mile Creek Bridge through mid-2025 while crews replace the bridge. Signage is in place to detour drivers around the work zone using Pine Forest Road, Longleaf Drive and Wymart Road.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) – I-10, between U.S. 29 and I-110, is reduced to two travel lanes in each direction. Beginning Sunday, Aug. 18 through Thursday, Aug. 22, drivers will also encounter intermittent lane closures on I-10 near U.S. 29 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. The U.S. 29 northbound ramp to I-10 eastbound is also closed. U.S. 29 northbound drivers are being detoured to make a U-turn at Broad Street onto U.S. 29 southbound to access I-10 eastbound. These closures allow crews to perform shoulder and bridge work to widen the interstate.
- North Palafox Street (U.S. 29) Resurfacing from Cervantes Street to Brent Lane (State Road (S.R.) 296) – Drivers may encounter daytime outside lane closures on North Palafox Street at the intersection of Leonard Street/Cross Street and at the intersection of Fairfield Drive, Monday, Aug. 19 through Friday, Aug. 23. Crews will be working on traffic signals. Law enforcement personnel will be available to safely direct traffic through the work zone.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) – Drivers will encounter inside lane closures on I-10 near Exit 5, Sunday, Aug. 18 through Thursday, Aug. 22, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. These closures are required as crews construct a temporary detour.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Traffic on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) is shifted to the southbound travel lanes, between Rudolph Street and Green Street. One travel lane in each direction remains open as crews reconstruct the adjacent northbound lanes. The traffic shift is expected to remain in place through fall 2024. Signage is in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- County Road (C.R.) 4 over Canoe Creek Bridge – C.R. 4, between Byrneville and Bratt, will be reopened to traffic this week as the Canoe Creek bridge replacement is now complete.
Santa Rosa County:
- S.R. 89 Resurfacing, from north of S.R. 87 to C.R. 178 – Drivers will encounter intermittent daytime lane closures, between S.R .87 and C.R. 178, Monday, Aug. 19 through Friday, Aug. 23 as crews install signage and place thermoplastic striping.
- U.S. 90 Resurfacing from west of Avalon Boulevard to east of Stewart Street – Drivers may encounter intermittent U.S. 90 lane closures, between Glover Street and Stewart Street, Sunday, Aug. 18 through Thursday, Aug. 22, from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., for paving operations.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive Sunday, Aug. 18, through Friday, Aug. 23, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- U.S. 98 Turn Lane Operations from Village Parkway to Bergren Road – Motorists will encounter intermittent eastbound outside lane closure from Sunday, Aug. 18 through Thursday, Aug. 22 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for turn lane construction.
- U.S. 90 (Gulf Breeze Parkway) Routine Underground Utility Maintenance near Daniel Street and Shoreline Drive – Motorists will encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, Aug.19, and Thursday, Aug. 22 through Monday Aug. 26 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for routine underground utility maintenance.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
7-Year Old Dies Following Friday Wreck In Santa Rosa County
August 19, 2024
A 7-year-old has passed away from injuries received in a traffic crash Friday in northern Santa Rosa County.
The Florida Highway Patrol occurred about 5 p.m. at the intersection of Sandy Forest Road and Bryant Bridge Road, south of Holt in the Blackwater State Forest.
FHP said a 73-year-old Holt woman was driving an SUV west on Bryant Bridge Road as a 59-year-old Ponce De Leon man was driving a pickup truck south on Sandy Forest Road. Trooper said the pickup ran a stop sign and collided with the right side of the SUV. The SUV, which had boys ages seven and eight as passengers, overturned its side.
The 7-year-old boy was flown to an area hospital with critical injuries. He later passed away from his injuries Saturday afternoon, troopers said Monday.
The 73-year-old woman suffered serious injuries, while the 8-year-old boy was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the pickup truck received minor injuries.
The FHP traffic homicide investigation is continuing.
Most Of Century Without Water For Most Of Sunday Due To Water Main Break
August 19, 2024
A significant portion of the town of Century was without water for most of Sunday.
A water main break was reported Sunday morning in front of Bondurant Ace Hardware at 8511 North Century Boulevard.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
The town notified NorthEscambia.com about a boil water notice for the entire town about 11 a.m., but providing no other information or updates . That boil water notice remains in effect.
Due to the water main break, the Whataburger restaurant on North Century Boulevard closed for the day.
Sunday night, residents began to report the return of water service. Work at the leak site had ceased by about 9 p.m. The Town of Century did not provide any updates.
Escambia County Fire Rescue put plans in place for a second alarm for any fire call in Century in order to automatically send water tankers form neighboring fire stations, accordioning to Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore. However , there were no fires reported during the water outage.
Pictured: Repair to a broken water main Sunday afternoon on North Century Boulevard. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Project Begins Today To Widen Portions Of Dangerously Narrow Highway 164
August 19, 2024
A project to widen portions of Highway 164 will begin today, August 19. Work will take place in three phases and is expected to be completed by Friday, September 20.
The $1.25 million project funded by Local Option Sales Tax funds will widen a total of 2.16 total miles of dangerously narrow Highway 164.
Highway 164 has been the scene of several near head-on crashes and sideswipes attributed to the narrow roadway. Some of the roadway has approximately 8-foot travel lanes — not wide enough for large vehicles like a fire engine from the nearby McDavid Fire Station (pictured top).
“I’m excited about the first phase of widening improvements for the most narrow part of Hwy 164,” Commissioner Steven Barry said when funding was approved earlier this year. “I promise it’s not the completion of the project, only the first phase including the worst area, and I will keep working diligently to secure the funds needed for additional widening of Highway 164 and for other roads which need these type improvements as well.”
The Escambia County Commission awarded the $1,254,955.88 project to Panhandle Grading and Paving, which was deemed the lowest, most responsive, and responsible bidder.
According to Escambia County Engineering, the two areas had seven sideswipes and other accidents between May 2018 and May 2023– the highest concentration areas on Highway 164. NorthEscambia.com has covered several other crashes on Highway 164 outside the proposed widening zone — including a fiery two pickup crash last April, and a pickup truck and school bus last year (detailed in photo descriptions below).
Phase A:
Crews will begin widening Highway 164 between Highway 97 and Green Village Road Monday, August 19. This portion of road will be closed to through traffic, but local motorists and school bus traffic will have access to Highway 164. All through traffic will detour from Highway 97, east on Gobbler Road to Green Village Road, then south to Highway 164. Phase A is expected to be completed by Saturday, Aug. 24.
Phase B:
Crews will begin widening Highway 164 from Green Village Road toward North Highway 99 on Monday August 26. This portion of road will be open to local traffic only. Through traffic will be detoured north on Green Village Road, east on Gobbler Road, then south on Highway 99 to Highway 164. Phase B is expected to be completed by Friday, August 30
Phase C:
Crews will begin widening Highway 164 near North Pine Barren Road Tuesday, September 3. Traffic will be reduced to a single lane controlled by a flagging operation. Phase C is expected to be completed by Friday, September 20.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Career Fire Crews Now Staffing The Molino Fire Station 24/7
August 19, 2024
Career fighters are now staffing the Molino Fire Station 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The full staffing went into effect at 8 a.m. on Saturday, August 17.
The four-member crews are a special operations team, providing light technical and special rescue services in addition to responding to fire and medical calls across North Escambia. The station will respond in the Molino fire district, and provide assistance in the McDavid, Walnut Hill, Century and Cantonment fire districts, along with assistance in other local areas.
“This will really bolster our response in the north end,” Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore said recently. “This will benefit the entire area.”
The current “Squad 9″ truck (pictured below) that was assigned to the McDavid Fire Station in September 2023 was transferred to the Molino Fire Station, becoming known as “Squad 18″ for the new crews. “Engine 9″ and other apparatuses will remain in McDavid.
Work was done at the Molino Fire Station to remodel the bunk rooms, living quarters and the kitchen to better support occupation by 24/7 crews.
Molino is now what is known as combination department –volunteers would still respond to calls alongside the paid crews.
“I’m pleased to know that my friends and neighbors in the Molino area will have coverage 24/7 out of the Molino Fire Station, and I certainly appreciate the brave men and women who will be providing the service, be they volunteer or career,” District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said recently.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Two Injured In Century Motorcycle Crash
August 19, 2024
Two people were injured in a motorcycle accident Sunday evening near Century.
The crash occurred around 8:30 p.m. on Old Flomaton Road, close to Campbell Road. The motorcycle veered off the road and into a ditch.
One rider was critically injured and transported to a Pensacola hospital by Escambia County EMS. The other rider sustained less severe injuries and was taken to Jay Hospital by ambulance.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash.
AAA: Florida Gas Prices are Lowest In Two Months
August 19, 2024
Florida gas prices rose 7 cents last week. However, those gains were quickly erased by the weekend.
On Sunday, the state average was $3.31 per gallon. That’s 2 cents less than last week, 12 cents less than a month ago, and 53 cents less than this time last year. The state average is also 33 cents below this year’s high of $3.64 per gallon.
The Escambia County average was $3.15 per gallon, the cheapest metro area in the state. A low of $2.93 was available on Nine Mile Road Sunday evening. A couple of North Escambia stations on Highway 29 in Cantonment were a few pennies below $3.
“Over the weekend, Florida gasoline hit the lowest average price in two months,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The price of crude continues to influence prices at the pump. Oil prices increased early last week on renewed optimism about the U.S. economy, after a July domestic consumer spending report was better than analysts expected. By the end of the week, however, weak economic data from China caused oil prices to soften.”
Lindgren’s Strong Outing Sets Tone For Wahoos Win In Sunday Series Finale
August 19, 2024
written by Bill Vilona
Smiles returned. A game was sealed. The congratulatory, high-five line of players had some added energy.
The Blue Wahoos got a win they needed Sunday, a 4-1 victory against the Montgomery Biscuits to end a tough homestand at Blue Wahoos Stadium in a good way.
Starting pitcher Jeff Lindgren, who was the Blue Wahoos’ most reliable, durable starter in 2021 on his eventual rise to making a major league debut last season with the Miami Marlins, duplicated that kind of performance Sunday in five scoreless innings.
He allowed just two hits, two walks, six strikeouts and carried a 2-0 lead en route to his first win since July 10.
Behind him, a bullpen trio of Cade Gibson (2 innings), Tristan Stevens and Dale Stanavich, all delivered. They allowed just one hit combined, two walks and five strikeouts. It resembled the other win the Blue Wahoos got in this six-game series on Thursday in a 3-1 game.
As it turned out, the Blue Wahoos got the runs they needed in the third inning. Shane Sasaki led off with a double, the scored on Johnny Olmstead’s RBI single. Olmstead then advanced on a stolen base and wild pitch and scored on Jakob Marsee’s sacrifice fly.
Marsee then laid down a sacrifice bunt in the sixth inning, moving Harrison Spohn into scoring position. Jacob Berry’s two out single scored Spohn and completed a big week for Berry. He went 9-for-21 in six games this week, with two homers and six RBI.
Joe Mack’s double in the eighth inning scored Graham Pauley with the Blue Wahoos’ fourth run.
It’s been a tough season series for the Blue Wahoos against Montgomery (8-16) and they will lament two games this week with ninth inning leads that didn’t end with wins.
But they remain in the thick of a three-team race with Biloxi and the Mississippi Braves for the second playoff spot. The second half winner in the Southern League’s South Division qualifies, or the second-place finisher if Montgomery wins both halves.
The Blue Wahoos will now turn attention to their farthest road trip this season. They will leave on Monday for east Tennessee where they will face the Tennessee Smokies in a road series beginning Tuesday at Smokies Stadium.
This series will be the second-to-last week for the Smokies playing in this ballpark, which is located 22 miles east of Knoxville in Kodak. Next season, the Smokies will move into a 7,000-seat stadium located in downtown Knoxville, not far from the University of Tennessee campus.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Blue Wahoos vs. Tennessee Smokies
WHEN: Tuesday Thru Sunday (Aug. 25).
WHERE: Smokies Stadium, Kodak, Tennessee.
Entire Town of Century Water System Under Boil Water Notice
August 18, 2024
UPDATE: The boil water notice was lifted just before 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 22.
Previous story:
The entire Town of Century water system is under a boil water notice until further notice.
The town said Sunday morning that the system lost pressure due to a water main break.
As a precaution, the town advises that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative, bottled water may be used. Residents are also advised to take precautions when bathing, especially immunocompromised individuals, infants, or the elderly.
A loss in system pressure could cause back siphonage of contaminants, such as e. coli bacteria, into the water system. water containing E. coli bacteria can be considered safe for drinking and cooking after vigorously boiling the water. Disease symptoms caused by these bacteria may include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and possibly jaundice, and any associated headache and fatigue. EPA has set an enforceable drinking water standard for e. coli to reduce the risk of these adverse health effects. Under this standard all drinking water must be free of these bacteria.
The water system is currently collecting samples to determine if the presence of E. coli bacteria exists within the water system. This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
Anyone with question should call the Town of Century at (850) 256-3208.
This story will be updated when the boil water notice is lifted.
New Highway 4 Bridge To Open This Week
August 18, 2024
The Florida Department of Transportation says the Highway 4 bridge over Canoe Creek will reopen sometime this week.
FDOT told NorthEscambia.com that the bridge is complete, but there are a few minor items that need to be fixed prior to traffic being allowed across the bridge. One of those items is as simple as some reflective paint that was spilled and must be cleaned up to avoid a hazard for drivers at night.
The exact opening date and time are not known, but we’ll let you know here on NorthEscambia.com.
The estimated completion date for the nearly $4 million bridge had been delayed by weather until September 1, but contractors were able to finish construction last week.
The new bridge replaces an 81-year-old structure that hat was closed on July 10, 2023 ,with traffic between Bratt and Century detoured.
Pictured: The Highway 4 bridge over Canoe Creek on Friday afternoon, August 16. Northescambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
