Two more lanes planned for US98 from Seashore to Garcon Point
BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.co m

The future of US 98 is not set in stone and local transportation planners are keeping their eyes and ears open to suggestions.

In addition to plans recently unveiled by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the local Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) and the Northwest Florida Transportation Corridor Authority (NFTCA) are all working on plans to improve the roadway.

FDOT is now in the planning and design phase of a capacity improvement project for a portion of 98. Their plan calls for two new lanes, for a total of six, from the eastern border of the National Island Seashore to just east of the Garcon Point bridge. The TPO is on the verge of accepting a long range plan that could fund miscellaneous repairs and upgrades for the Pensacola Bay Bridge. NFTCA members recently unveiled their master plan for a large portion of us 98 from Escambia to Wakulla County. The closest project from that plan in the vicinity of US 98 is a proposed new bay bridge from Langley Avenue in Pensacola to Avalon Boulevard south of Milton.

Santa Rosa County Commissioner John Broxson, who jointly represents the county on the TPO, has his eyes set on a newly discovered patch of proposed state funding. Broxson says the new funding, identified by Santa Rosa County Transportation planners, is earmarked to connect I- 110 in Escambia County to US 98 East of the National Island Seashore in Gulf Breeze. Broxson said he would like to see capacity improvements to the Pensacola Bay Bridge that don't increase traffic along 98 through the city limits of Gulf Breeze.

"My impression is that this funding is for a bridge replacement," Broxson said, adding it would be his wish to add two lanes to a new and improved bay bridge. "I'm opposed to increased capacity on the streets of Gulf Breeze. I think we can avoid that… That's why I encourage the elevated bridge concept."