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FDOT Considering Traffic Light Or ‘Restricted Crossing U-Turn’ For Highway 29 At Highway 196
August 31, 2026
The Florida Department of Transportation is considering two options for a Highway 29 safety project at Highway 196 (Barrineau Park Road). One option is a traditional traffic signal, and the other is called an RCUT (Restricted Crossing U-Turn) intersection that would force vehicles to make U-turns on Highway 29 to cross over.
Traffic Signal
The traffic signal option is very straightforward; keep the intersection as it is now and install a traffic signal. Current drawings for the traffic signal option show the current turn lane on Highway 29, and no additional turn lanes on Highway 196.
RCUT (Restricted Crossing U-Turn)
An RCUT design would use a concrete barrier to close the median and prevent Highway 196 drivers from crossing over Highway 29. Drivers on Highway 196 would be required to turn right onto Highway 29 and use a designated U-turn location to reach the other side.
Click here for more design images.
Timetable
Both alternatives are at the 60% design phase, with final design of the chosen design anticipated in early 2027. The development process is currently in the design phase with construction of the final design anticipated in 2027-2028 and completion in 2028. Both design and construction are funded.
Public Meeting
FDOT will hold a hybrid public meeting with attendance either in person or virtually, on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m. at Victory Assembly of God at 1895 Victory Road (just south of the Highway 29 and Highway 196 intersection). The same materials will be presented in both formats.
Registration, Public Comment
- To register to attend, click here.
- For an interactive map, click here.
- To submit public comment, click here.
Click any image to enlarge.
Comments
29 Responses to “FDOT Considering Traffic Light Or ‘Restricted Crossing U-Turn’ For Highway 29 At Highway 196”
Please just make a traffic light at the intersection, just like the one at Molino rd and hwy 29, it cant be that complicated….lol
Cul-De-Sac 196 on both sides of 29.
Problem solved
No entrance. No exit.
How about 3rd option, leave it alone. That RCUT looks like an idiot designed it. Now you want people to do a U turn into traffic doing 65mph. Next, you will want red lights at the U turn.
Only thing that works is better driving habits. You can’t regulate people into change.
When lives start to matter they will make bridges mandatory and solve the problem. There is always money for what needs to be.
Wow. Look at all the traffic experts in the comments. Someone said “what about an overpass?” Hahahaha Jeeze. I live right at this intersection and never have an issue, I pay attention.
Fire the ignorant blueprint reading engineer and hire someone with common sense!
Red light at every intersection and a speed limit of 45 all the way from 9-Mile to 97. Problem solved. (sarc)
@ Jr
Where did you get the idea Molino people wanted a light?
The meeting for the DG store was packed with 99% opposed to it. Yet the county override our WANTS AND NOT WANTS
I cross there quite a bit, but no one is thinking outside the box.
My vote is for a Dukes of Hazzard style jump across 29 with Roscoe Purvis Coltrane there to chase anyone that doesn’t make it all the way across.
Cheapest solution: 45mph speed limit and old-fashioned caution light.
From Jr.: “Drivers are the problem, not the dang road.”
In most cases, I would concur, Jr. There are hundreds of stories on NE.com to support your view.
In this situation, however, the existing design of the intersection, coupled with traffic volume, vehicle directional movement, vehicle speed, and possibly lack of use (and trust) of turn signals has all combined to be so complex that a given driver coming into the intersection cannot fully assess the situations at some given moments. In essence, the intersection is functionally deficient.
Traffic signals, traffic circles, reverse u-turn lanes are solutions. My personally favored solution would be a traffic circle (aka round-a-bout) because it reduces backups and keeps people cautiously moving while avoiding the two minute wait a signal imposes. Nevertheless, FDOT and the general public are not really big advocates of traffic circles locally, so I expect a light… and still another slow down, on Escambia County’s only 4-lane N/S highway.
One of these types of u-turn systems is in Orange Beach. It is supplemented with a traffic signal and widened u-turn lanes.
Another one I’ve seen is near Citra, Florida on U.S. 301 south of Ocala in Marion County. Did not like it. Had a tow behind me. You have to weave to the left lane, then u-turn, but with the tow, you have to use both lanes in the maneuver and my front tires went off into gravel to swing the tow.
A third is on US 80 about 20 minutes west of Selma. Same situation as above.
I do not like these designs at all. Stick with a traffic signal.
But understand, US 29 will soon be just like AL 59 from Loxley to Gulf Shores. We may need our own version of the Orange Beach Express soon just to commute north and south… but where would it go?
That’s the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. A u-turn on 29? I travel that way often. That’s my connection going to 95a. People do not slow down on 29. Once they come through Cantonment it’s a raceway all the way to next light. We got more homes being built on 29 it’s only getting worse. Suggest lowering speed limit (for what good that would do) how about more police in area monitoring the speeders they fly down 29 weaving in and out of traffic. A red light would make more since. I see one going in at 95a and Quintette in the near future. That’s more dangerous than 29 and 196 crossing Just my opinion
A red light would fix the problems in Molino people said.
It didn’t.
The problem is the Drivers. I go through that intersection daily. Have never had a close call. Why? Because I am not in my cell phone, I am not in a hurry, and I pay attention. The is why those accidents happen 98% of the time imo.
Drivers are the problem, not the dang road.
These are both bad ideas. The traffic light is the lesser of two evils. But it won’t prevent accidents, as proven by the lights at hwy 97 and Molino road, it will simply cause more delays for morning traffic. You can’t fix the stupidity on our roadways nowadays and all the lights in the world won’t make any difference.
The RCUT proposed would make US 29 even more hazardous by adding unnecessary controls. If you really want to improve safety, put a light at Neal Rd and US 29. The traffic there on weekdays is unbelievable during Jim Allen Elementary traffic hours when parents block the right-of-way on 95A, creating a gridlock for northbound traffic, and southbound diverts to Neal Rd to exit onto 29. Also, please have ECSO stop parents from blocking the right-of-way and start issuing citations for gridlock!
The problems on US 29 at 196 are because of distracted, improperly trained, inexperienced, or careless drivers in all directions. Slow the speed limit there (and in the area of Neal Rd) to 45 mph until well north of 196. Be prepared to post a teooper there to write citations.
Cautions lights will not help.. Caution lights only make people more secure about pulling out in front of someone else, “thinking” that the other person is going to slow down because of the flashing light. That is the way people think. It’s hard enough to make a driver slow down and stop when they see a yellow light that is in the process of turning red. Every driver has made that choice. Speed up to make a yellow light only to go through on a red light or hitting someone. At least with a red light, the green lights can be delayed to avoid the yellow light sprinters
You got to be kidding me – a U turn on each sides! I can’t believe some engineer would consider making this decision. This will only cause additional problems and accidents. PUT UP AND TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH LEFT TURNING LANES FOR ALL 4 Directions. I can’t make this meeting but I sure hope for better safety in our part of town, everyone will select the Traffic Light. If the engineer who thought of this should put the design downtown Pensacola and let see what they think of it.
Highway 29 is an evacuation route. Right hand only is the worst possible solution. People will be pulling out and eventually stopping and making u-turns in front of traffic going 65 and 75 miles an hour. This will stop traffic and cause multiple rear end collisions. Try making all those u-turns in an evacuation and see what happens to Pensacola. And think about Florida’s foggy days when you can’t see three car lengths in front of you and people are going 65 mph. Try making that u-turn.
Red Light is the best option. I agree with not having a U-Turn lane on #29.
Add Left Turns to the Red Lights.
If I had to choose one or the other I would choose the traffic signal. I cross over that intersection regularly and with the U-turn I see only more confusion. Please don’t make the crossing worse by the U-turn!!!
My great grandfather was killed at that intersection back in 1970. Only God knows how many have died there since then. Dozens I’d imagine.
I think this is a dangerous ideal to make people do u turns on a highway as busy as 196 and hwy 29. Getting into the left lane to make a U-turn when people are flying down this highway is just dangerous. I travel this highway pulling a horse trailer and can’t imagine trying to make this turn. A traffic light would be a much better plan, and would slow people down on this stretch of highway, where people pass me going 85 or 90 mph. A traffic light would be less expensive for tax payers and also would keep from having long construction delays at this intersection.
Every single neighbor along 196 both east and west of 29 need to attend this meeting. As area residents we have the right to have a say in this crossing modification. My preference is for a stop light. Others might feel different. I believe a light would slow traffic down for a start. As well as allowing east and west travellers a safe crossing, safe entry into north and southbound lanes will be facilitated. I have personally witnessed 3 accidents at this intersection, at least one involving a fatality. The U-turn as proposed further north or south on 29 will only become bottle necked (especially on the northbound side) and will create new accident risks on both lanes. Those are my thoughts. You may have yours as well. Let’s show up to express these thoughts as we are the ones that will be living with the final outcome.
NO LIGHT!
BEST PUT STOP SIGNS FOR THE TWO 29 TURNING LANES. SINCE DG, I HAVE SEEN TOO MANY SOUTH BOUND CARS JUMP IN THE TURNING LANE AND SPEED AROUND FOR THE DG! ACCIDENTS THERE ARE MAINLY DG CUSTOMERS GOING OR COMING
A traffic light would be more logical. Who would want to drive a quarter mile or so just to make a U turn. Who is the FDOT came up with this stupid idea about the U turn?
There appears to be no common sense or brains any more in the FDOT.
I agree eliminating U-Turns would help. Stop light won’t stop the accidents! Right turn only will just move accidents to the new U-Turn spot.
What would help a left hand turn run up lane just like the Right turn run up lane. A flashing yellow light for North and South on 29 and a flashing Red light on 196 east and west.
If a traffic light goes in the light should flash yellow over 29 and flash red on 196, until a vehicle has to cross 29 or turn onto 29..
What about an overpass?
Somehow the U-Turn idea sounds terribly unsafe.