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Letter To The Editor: Grover Robinson On I-10, Scenic Highway Work
December 17, 2013
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Last Friday, the State of Florida and its contractor began commencement on improvements for Interstate 10 between Escambia Bay Bridge and Davis Highway. One of the most noticeable parts of that improvement was the removal of trees from Scenic Highway.
I, like many Escambia County residents, was shocked. While our staff had met with the State and the State had met with the Scenic Highway Foundation, I was unaware of the exact plans and was upset by what I saw.
After seeing the loss of the old growth oaks, I immediately sought to better educate myself with the plans, talking with both State and County employees to determine what work was being done and how the impact to our environment could be mitigated. As I spoke with staff at both the Escambia County and at the State-level, I understood that the agencies involved had to make difficult decisions to in order to diminish potential storm water issues. The regrettable choices were to either remove the trees to create two retention ponds or to relocate eight families on either side of Interstate 10 in order to place ponds on the former home sites. While I certainly appreciate the beauty and environmental history of the old growth oaks along the exit, I do not believe that tearing down homes and trees that others had planted at their homesteads was a viable option.
Since it appears that the actions taken were necessary for progress, Escambia County has offered to assist the State with new landscaping. Escambia County is making an offer to the State of Florida and its contractor to augment the replanting of trees once the ponds are built to see if better species can be planted, as well as more mature specimens. While this certainly will not erase the drastic change that occurred or the loss of the beautiful canopy at that exit, I hope it will make for an easier transition for as we move forward.
I do appreciate the State and its willingness to continue to improve traffic in Escambia County, and I also appreciate their willingness to work with us in as a team to evaluate enhancements Escambia made.
I ask patience of all residents who either live or drive Scenic Highway. Our progress may be slow, but I believe the finished product will be something that is both better for the driver and for our environment and ecology. While I – along with many of you – will deeply feel the loss of the majestic oaks, I am working diligently with the State to ensure that we put forward as best recovery as possible.
Sincerely,
Grover C. Robinson, IV
Escambia County Commissioner
District 4
Comments
15 Responses to “Letter To The Editor: Grover Robinson On I-10, Scenic Highway Work”
I would have preferred to see traffic diverted from Scenic Highway to a new interchange at 9th Avenue. It seems inevitable that Scenic Highway will be transformed into a freeway and called improvement
Please do not plant non-native palm trees for the tourist. The one thing Pensacola can boast about are the large beautiful oak trees. With Gulf Power butchering our beloved trees, hurricanes and retention ponds being built our trees are suffering in appearance which makes Pensacola look shabby. I have driven Scenic Highway for years and never experienced flooding. I’m not quite sure where the flooding is occurring to warrant such large ugly holes in our earth. Also, Scenic Highway is home to a lot of wildlife and if we destroy their habitat we’ll lose our animals. Please don’t put an ugly chain link fence around these huge ugly holes. Thank you.
well you can look forward to crape myrtles or some other kind of bush to be put back in place of those huge live oaks.I’m sure the county com. see a copy of the plans and knew those trees were going to be removed who’s grover fooling
Wouldn’t have to build retention ponds if it wasn’t for all the left wing whacko EPA regulations that exist. Their environmental whackoism has now resulted in the death of innocent trees.
Progress is not always such a good thing. Clear cut more and more, and Pensacola will start looking a lot different like it did after Hurrican Ivan.
Kill paradise, put up a parking lot…
We are going to keep making excuses in the name of “PROGRESS” until every inch of the ear th’s land masses are covered in concrete.
@ Bill Hayden:
While your entry may contain some true and accurate information your juvenile name-calling undermines the entire post.
Many weeks I travel in and out of the PNS airport. The drive home takes me down Langley and then north on Scenic Hwy to I-10. Many will empathize with my horror as I made the left hand turn to go east on 10. The once magnificent stand of Live Oaks was wiped clean! For what?
Does Pensacola or Escambia County need to widen I-10? I have “never” seen what might be considered “traffic congestion” on I-10 or I-110. What will adding an additional lane on each side of the highway accomplish? Is the city or county expecting or currently experiencing growth that requires a wider highway?
At a time when America’s economy and standard of living is in constant decline and deficits occur at every governmental level, how can we or why do we chose to waste money on unneeded infrastructure such as this project seems to be? Who’s great idea was it to widen I-10 and who approved such a project?
The tragedy is the loss of what was beautiful land. It took hundreds of years for those incredible oaks to mature into a true wonder. A fenced retention area with haphazard landscaping will never replace what was taken from the area residents. The eastern approach to the city is now barren with concrete walls.
Those who approved this disaster should be held accountable.
The bridge is already 6 lanes so it’s only natural to expand to 6 from Scenic to Davis, where it is already 6 to Hwy 29. Sure wish they would do something with the eastbound I10 ramp from north on 29. You better have your foot in it getting on there.
Retention ponds are necessary for a clean bay however this was done sneaky with not much if any public input. Surely a better place for the ponds could have been found. Let’s hope the people involved landscape these ponds and clean the litter out of them better than the ones we’ve seen so far.
Hmmm… I see the tree-hugging Kum Ba Yah crowd is getting their panties in a wad over this. Let see, The State DOT held two public meetings to inform the public on their design plans for the I-10/Scenic Highway interchange. I am certain that they displayed a set of landscaping plans in those meetings with an overlay to show people what the interchange would look like when the work was completed. They (DOT) also informed and gave an input opportunity for local government officials to voice their concerns. I really can’t explain why Commissioner Robinson (a government official) didn’t seem to get the word on this? Then the Land Development Code stipulates that trees cannot be cut if they are within twenty feed of the right-of-way. DUH! The entire area of concern is totally within the I-10 right-of-way. The stated alternative to cutting the trees would have required the state to acquire additional right-of-way thereby displacing families/property adjacent to the existing ROW at great expense to taxpayers. Taxpayers who would then complain about that tax dollar expenditure also! Sorry folks…The state did their due diligence to inform the public on this one. If the public chose not to become involved…shame on them. As the olde saying goes…If you snooze…you loose.
Retention ponds?? Don’t you mean mosquito breeding ground!!!!
It is absolutely UGLY there now. I don’t understand why we need to expand that to six lanes when it is going to choke back down on the other side. Just my opinion and I know it doesn’t matter.
The City of Pensacola dug up and replanted several large live oaks a few years back on Summit Blvd I can’t under stand why this can’t be done also.I understand this is progress but it always doesnt have to come down to cutting down the trees.