You can't get there from here
Bowden Way opens from Opal Beach to Navarre Beach; remainder due later this summer

David Standridge/Special to the News The engineer for PBS&J looks over the plans to repair the road between Pensacola Beach and Opal Beach.

The eastern portion of J. Earle Bowden Way from Navarre Beach to Opal Beach will reopen at 9 a.m. Friday, May 9.

"Although we are only opening the roadway from the Navarre Beach boundary and travelers will not be able to drive all the way through to Pensacola Beach at this time, we are excited to begin allowing visitors more accessible use of this section of the National Seashore," Gulf Islands National Seashore Superintendent Jerry Eubanks said in a news release. " This brings us one step closer to returning to normal operations."

Until the roadway is completed to Pensacola Beach, the Navarre Beach access will be limited to day traffic only. The roadway will be closed at sunset. This is for safety because construction will continue on the western end of J. Earle Bowden Way.

Portions of J. Earle Bowden Way were destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and the project was halted before completion as a result of Tropical Storm Arlene, Hurricane Cindy and Hurricane Dennis in 2005.