I-10 bridge dedicated to Bogan
BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.com

Dove Bogan (far left) and her daughter, Joy, receive a memorial sign from Governor Charlie Crist during the dedication ceremony on Dec. 12.

Driving from Pensacola to Milton will never be the same for one Gulf Breeze family. Dove and Joy Bogan, wife and daughter of the late David Bogan, attended a dedication ceremony Dec. 12 attended by Governor Charlie Crist, local politicians, media and friends. The ceremony officially renamed the I-10 bridge the David Bogan Bridge, in honor of the Gulf Breeze/Pensacola Beach man who oversaw its reconstruction after Hurricane Ivan bludgeoned the structure in 2004. David Bogan passed away from brain cancer at the age of 43 on Feb. 21 .

"His family and I are so proud to see David's memory honored by the biggest project of his career," Dove Bogan said. "After repairing the old bridge, David commented to me several times that he hoped he would get to take on the new bridge. David's coworkers said that David was obviously excited about this job, as when he introduced himself, he would say, 'I'm David Bogan, the Escambia I-10 Bay bridge project manager.' It is so unheard of for a bridge to be named for someone who actually worked on it; to have it named for my husband instead of a politician, seems quite miraculous."

In addition to the bridge, Bogan, an avid surfer and windsurfer, also had a portion of over 100,000 tons of the old bridge dedicated to his memory as an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico.

Friend and surfing partner Bob Cramer, 48, said the dedications were fitting because Bogan was an optimistic, selfless person who took real ownership of the project to replace the bridge. Cramer said Bogan's infectious, positive attitude bled over into all aspects of his life.

"He never had a bad day on the water," Cramer said. "He was always happier when he came out than when he went in. Being around him over last eight years has rubbed off on me. I have a different outlook on life now because of him."

At the ceremony Gov. Crist was joined by Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos, members of the Florida Legislature and local officials.

"The people of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties have endured a substantial amount of heartaches and headaches in the three years following Hurricane Ivan," the Governor said in a prepared statement. "This bridge is a representation of how two communities have bonded together, becoming stronger and better prepared for the future."

The two new bridges each consist of three 12-foot travel lanes and 10-foot inside and outside shoulders. The bridges also have a minimum clearance of 25 feet from the water.