I m so happy for Pensacola and Gulf Breeze, state Rep. Michelle Salzman, R-Pensacola, said early Friday morning, moments after the bridge opened. This is just in time for Memorial Day weekend.
The limited reopening comes a few days before the Florida Department of Transportation s Memorial Day week estimate and allows for the large crowds anticipated this weekend to use the bridge and bring traffic back through Gulf Breeze for the first time since fall.
As of Friday afternoon, Pensacola Police Department spokesman Mike Wood and Gulf Breeze Police Chief Rick Hawthorne said there hadn t been any issues with traffic on the bridge as motorists largely stuck to the speed limit and drove cautiously.
Nearly 1,000 plaintiffs have filed lawsuits saying Skanska was negligent in its actions before the hurricane because it didn t follow its own hurricane plan to move the barges to a safe location. Those cases are ongoing in state and federal court.
Consistent with the requirements within the construction contract with Skanska, FDOT will continue to withhold payments of $35,000 per day until four lanes of traffic are restored to the entire southbound span of the Pensacola Bay Bridge.
During the bridge outage, the Garcon Point Bridge has served as the primary detour for traffic between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze. Gov. Ron DeSantis has kept the toll on that bridge lifted since then.
May 16, 2021
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties this week as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement - The intersection of North 17th Avenue and Bayfront Parkway will remain closed until spring 2021 as construction continues for the new 17th Avenue interchange. The Visitor’s Center and adjacent boat launch remain accessible from 17th Avenue. Also, the ramp from 17th Avenue to East Gregory Street remains open. Eastbound drivers on Bayfront Parkway should use North 14th Avenue and Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) as a detour route.
Pensacola News Journal
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Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County
U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – The intersection of North 17th Avenue and Bayfront Parkway will remain closed until spring 2021 as construction continues for the new 17th Avenue interchange. The Visitor s Center and adjacent boat launch remain accessible from 17th Avenue. Also, the ramp from 17th Avenue to East Gregory Street remains open. Eastbound drivers on Bayfront Parkway should use North 14th Avenue and Cervantes Street (U.S. 90) as a detour route.