$5 Million O.C. Phillips Bridge Replacement Project Set To Begin
February 18, 2026
Escambia County’s Construction Management Division is preparing to begin construction on a $5.03 million O.C. Phillips Bridge Replacement Project, replacing the existing bridge on O.C. Phillips Road near Walnut Hill.
Construction is scheduled to begin this month and includes a full replacement of the bridge. The roadway will remain open during construction via a temporary bridge.
The O.C. Phillips Road Bridge over Brushy Creek provides access to residents traveling between South Pineville Road and County Road 97A. The replacement bridge will be 0.015 miles (about 80 feet) in length and accommodate two travel lanes (one in each direction), including shoulders on each side. Escambia County said replacing the bridge will reduce flooding impacts, improve the creek habitat, improve driver safety, and provide emergency and residential access to the surrounding area.
The project is expected to be completed by summer 2027, weather permitting.
The O.C. Phillips Bridge Replacement Project is performed in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation. The project is funded by Local Option Sales Tax, FDOT, and RESTORE funds, with construction costs totaling $5,032,813. Murphree Bridge Corporation is the primary contractor.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Applications Open For 2026 Summer Youth Employment Program
February 18, 2026
Escambia County is now accepting applications for the 2026 Summer Youth Employment Program, which provides an opportunity for Escambia County youth ages 16-24 to receive paid work experience this summer.
Online applications are available now at MyEscambia.com/syep. The deadline to submit applications is 5 p.m. on Friday, February 27. Incomplete applications or applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
Qualified youth who are accepted into the program will be able to work up to 30 hours a week at $14 per hour, with positions available in various county departments along with the Escambia County Property Appraiser and Tax Collector’s Office. Positions will be available across Escambia County, including the Town of Century. Participants will also receive job readiness training prior to job placement as well as post-employment briefings.
The Escambia County Summer Youth Employment Program aims to help local youth gain valuable on-the-job experience while working toward their future career goals. Program participants will have the opportunity to learn a variety of practical job skills, along with workplace etiquette such as professional dress, timeliness and respect.
Last summer, over 200 youth participated in the program, working in county departments including Engineering, Escambia County Area Transit, Public Safety, West Florida Public Libraries, the Town of Century, and more.
Limited positions are available. Requirements for the program are as follows:
- Must submit a completed application packet with all required supporting documentation by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 27.
- Must be a resident of Escambia County, Florida at the time of application and for the duration of program participation.
- Must be between the age of 16 and 24 years old at the time of enrollment.
- Must complete up-front job readiness preparatory training classes and post-employment debriefing sessions.
- Must not have any felony convictions.
- If enrolled in school, must submit enrollment verification.
- Must show proof of identify (state-issued driver’s license or state ID card) and proof of address.
- Must meet hiring criteria of the temporary employment agency.
- Must attend the end of the Summer Youth Program Award Ceremony.
For additional information, please call Neighborhood and Human Services at 850-595-3927 or 850-595-1620.
Pictured: Escambia County Summer Youth Employment participants Shelby Rydzowski of McDavid (top) and Aaliyah Fountain of Walnut Hill (inset) worked at the Century Town Hall last year. Pictured below: Other program participants across Escambia County. NorthEscambia.com and contributed photos, click to enlarge.
Fake Spring? Warm Trend Continues With Highs Near 80
February 18, 2026
Wednesday through Friday will bring unseasonably warm temperatures nearing 80 degrees, though a persistent chance of showers and isolated thunderstorms will keep the area on guard through the start of the weekend. A shifting weather pattern on Saturday marks the arrival of a cold front, bringing likely rain before conditions clear significantly. By Sunday and into the start of next week, the region will see a return to bright sunshine and much cooler, seasonal air with overnight lows dipping near the freezing mark.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Southwest wind around 10 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Sunny, with a high near 61.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 54.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 59.
MILO, The Mobile ID And Licensing Office, Is In Century On Thursday
February 18, 2026
The Escambia County Tax Collector’s Mobile Identification and Licensing Office (MILO) will be in Century on on Thursday, February 19 from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse.
MILO offers a convenient way for residents to access essential tax collector services, including:
- Driver License Services: Renewals, replacements, out-of-state license conversions/reciprocations, and address/name changes.
- Identification Cards: First-time issuance and renewals.
- Vehicle Services: Registration renewals and replacements, title transfers, and parking placards.
- Tax Payments: Property tax payments.
- Business Tax Receipts: Applications and renewals.
- Certified Driver Transcripts
Written and driving tests are not available at the MILO unit.
This initiative aims to bring services to areas of Escambia County that may have limited access to traditional tax collector offices, particularly during disaster recovery or for residents in assisted living facilities, community centers, and correctional facilities.
Florida drivers may renew their vehicle registrations for a period of one or two years and may renew up to three months in advance of the registration expiration. Vehicle registrations expire at midnight on the first owner’s birth date unless the owner is a business.
Pictured: The Escambia County Tax Collector’s MILO at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.