County Considers Land Swap, $287K Payment For Planned Beulah I-10 Interchange

September 23, 2026

Escambia County Commissioners on Thursday will take up two related agenda items tied to the planned Interstate 10 Exit 1 interchange at Beulah Road, including clearing land rights for a state retention pond and awarding a major inspection contract

Commissioners will consider an agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation to exchange land and pay $287,700 to advance the planned Interstate 10 interchange at Beulah Road.

To clear the footprint for the I-10 at State Road 99 (Beulah Road) Interchange Project, FDOT needs approximately 17.25 acres of county-owned land, consisting of existing right-of-way and a portion of a county-owned parcel. The state plans to use the county tract as a retention pond.

In exchange, FDOT has offered to convey an approximately 3.6-acre parcel located at 8200 North Palafox Street to Escambia County. Escambia County’s Stormwater Management Division requested the acquisition of the North Palafox property to support future drainage and stormwater improvements in the area.

FDOT obtained appraisals for both the North Palafox Street parcel and the county-owned parcel, excluding right-of-way that will be donated. Based on those appraisals, the state’s property carries a higher value by $287,700, which the county would pay from its Transportation Trust Fund. FDOT is also requesting a temporary easement across county land during construction.

According to county records, the state’s planned roadway improvements in the corridor include:

  • Realigning the southern end of County Road 99 to connect with State Road 99 at a new signalized intersection.
  • Widening SR-99 from two lanes to four lanes from north of Frank Reeder Road to the CR-99 intersection.
  • Constructing a new four-lane section of SR-99 along Isaacs Lane from the CR-99 intersection to West Kingsfield Road.

Clearing Encumbrances: Bailey Family Settlement

In a related action on Thursday’s agenda, the board is scheduled to consider an amended settlement agreement with the Bailey family to remove an access easement that interferes with FDOT’s retention pond site.

The county-owned Beulah parcel was originally acquired by Escambia County through the settlement of a 2012 eminent domain lawsuit against the Bailey family. The county uses the site to maintain environmental monitoring wells for the Perdido Landfill. Under that 2012 deal, the Baileys were granted a 30-foot access easement along the northern boundary of the tract, which now directly overlaps FDOT’s pond footprint.

Under the proposed amendment:

  • The Bailey family will terminate and release their 30-foot access easement so FDOT can build the retention pond on schedule.
  • The county will convey an approximate 10-acre parcel within the Beulah tract to the Bailey family by quitclaim deed.
  • The county will grant the family a 15-foot ingress/egress easement over an existing dirt road used by county staff to access the landfill monitoring wells.
  • The county avoids prior contractual requirements to build a road and obtain wetland permits within the original easement corridor.

Beulah Road Realignment Contract

Also on Thursday’s agenda, commissioners will vote on awarding a $797,699.12 Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) contract to STV Incorporated for the Beulah Road Realignment Project.

The project includes the rehabilitation of Beulah Road and a section of Kingsfield Road to facilitate improvements and enhance heavy traffic access to the Perdido Landfill. Escambia County advertised the solicitation in June 2026, receiving nine bids.

The top-ranked firm, Mehta and Associates, Inc., negotiated a final fee of $797,699.12 before merging with STV Incorporated in August 2026. The contract is funded through the county’s Solid Waste Fund and is scheduled for completion in December 2027.

The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. on September 24 at the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building in Pensacola.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under TOP STORIES