FDOT Weekly Traffic Alerts
December 17, 2018
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 – Construction activities continue. Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 16 through Thursday, Dec. 20.
- U.S. 98 (Lillian Highway) Resurfacing from the Perdido Bay Bridge to Dog Track Road– Paving operations continue from the Perdido Bay Bridge to Dog Track Road. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 16 through Thursday, Dec. 20.
- · U.S. 98 (East Chase Street) Resurfacing from North Palafox Street to Bayfront Parkway – There will be paving operations from Palafox Street to the I-110 ramps from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Sunday, Dec. 16.
- · Crary Road Bridge Replacement - Crary Road will be temporarily closed between Tedder Road and Byrneville Road as crews construct a bridge culvert. Motorists will be detoured via County Road (C.R.) 4 and Byrneville Road.
- · Bratt Road Bridge Replacement over Canoe Creek - Bratt Road will continue to be closed near Canoe Creek during construction. Drivers on Bratt Road, west of the bridge, will be detoured to Pine Barren Road and C.R. 4. Drivers east of the bridge will be detoured east on Bratt Road.
- · S.R. 727 (Fairfield Drive) Drainage Improvements from south of Usher Circle to north of Hestia Place- The south entrance to Usher Circle from Fairfield Drive will be closed to traffic Friday, Dec. 14 through Thursday, Dec. 20 as crews install pipe across the roadway. Those seeking access to Usher Circle may utilize the north entrance off Fairfield Drive.
Santa Rosa County:
- · U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Construction activities continue. Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 16 through Thursday, Dec. 20.
- I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to Avalon Boulevard (S.R. 281/Exit 22) – The following construction related traffic impacts are planned for Interstate 10 and Avalon Boulevard the week of Sunday, Dec. 16 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.:
- Drivers may encounter alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange from Monday through Thursday.
- Alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of S.R. 281, Sunday through Friday, as crews work to widen the roadway.
- Drivers will encounter new traffic pattern(s) on I-10 east and westbound as crews reconstruct the inside and outside shoulders. This work will continue through spring 2019.
- S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to C.R. 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) –Traffic between Hickory Hammock Road and the Eglin AFB boundary will continue to be restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place until the project is completed.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
Winner Collects $38K For Lottery Ticket Sold In Century
December 17, 2018
We now know who purchased a winning Fantasy 5 ticket in Century earlier this month.
The Florida Lottery says the December 4 ticket worth $38,766.98 was sold to Timothy L. Bailey of Brewton who purchased the “quick pick” ticket at Becky’s Mini Mart on North Century Boulevard. Other winning tickets were sold in Hallandale, Fleming, Sarasota and Brandon.
The 277 tickets matching four numbers in the drawing won $112.50 each. Another 8,926 tickets matching three numbers are worth $9.50 each, and 86,050 ticket holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
The winning numbers were 5-12-24-27-29.
Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule
December 17, 2018
Monday, Dec. 17
Escambia County Legislative Delegation Public Hearing – 5:30 p.m., Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd.
Tuesday, Dec. 18
Board of Electrical Examiners – 9 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Pensacola-Escambia Promotion and Development Commission Board of Directors – 10 a.m., 418 W. Garden St., Room 307
Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place, Room 104
Wednesday, Dec. 19
Board of Adjustment – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place (Agenda)
Part-time Bus Operator Interviews – 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Escambia County Area Transit Administrative Offices, 1515 W. Fairfield Drive
Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place
Crowds Experience A ‘Night in Bethlehem’ At Molino Church
December 17, 2018
Highland Baptist Church hosted a “Night in Bethlehem” on Sunday.
The church recreated the town of Bethlehem, with stops representing the inn, blacksmith shop, manger and other aspects of the Biblical city. Visitors toured the city and experienced the Nativity story as if they were a part of it.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
AAA: Holiday Gas Prices To Hit Two-Year Lows
December 17, 2018
Florida gas prices have declined a little more than 50 cents in the past two months, and could drop another 10 cents before the end of the year, according to AAA.
“Holiday travelers will have more jingle in their pockets after they fill-up the family vehicle,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Prices are already at 2-year lows for the holidays, and should slip even lower in the next two weeks. Oil prices have been unable to gain significant upward momentum after OPEC announced plans to cut production. The price of crude declined last week and should drop again this week, because industry analysts are skeptical that OPEC’s plan could rebalance what is currently an oversupplied market. If oil prices drop even further this week, that would reduce the cost of producing gasoline and allow additional price cuts at the pump.”
On Sunday, gas prices averaged $2.30 per gallon statewide. In Escambia County, the average price per gallon was $2.29.
Prices for the holiday season are forecast to hit two year lows, as AAA estimates 5.3 million Florida drivers will hit the holiday road. Florida gas prices averaged $2.44 per gallon on Christmas Day 2017, and $2.29 in 2016.
Pictured: Regular unleaded gas was $2.11 Sunday night at this station on Highway 29 in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Driver Hits Tree In Cottage Hill
December 16, 2018
A driver was not seriously injured in a collision with a tree about 5:40 a.m. Sunday on WIlliams Ditch Road in Cottage Hill.
The driver refused transport to the hospital by Escambia County EMS.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway patrol. The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristy Barbour click to enlarge.
University Of West Florida Confers 100,000th Degree At Fall Commencement
December 16, 2018
The University of West Florida celebrated a significant milestone at the Fall 2018 Commencement on Saturday, awarding the 100,000th degree since the institution opened in 1967.
“Fifty-one years ago, UWF opened its doors and classes began,” said President Martha Saunders. “At our first graduation ceremony in June 1968, 58 graduates received their bachelor’s degrees. During Saturday’s ceremony, we will confer the 100,000th degree from UWF. I think it is fitting that we celebrate this achievement as a community of learners.”
Saunders conferred 1,777 degrees upon graduates from five academic colleges and the Graduate School, resulting in a total of 100,305 degrees conferred in the institution’s history. The three ceremonies took place at the Pensacola Bay Center.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery, click here.
UWF alumna and Trustee Jill Singer was this year’s commencement speaker. Singer is the vice president for national security at AT&T Government and earned her bachelor’s degree in computer science in 1984 and master’s degree in systems analysis in 1985 from UWF.
“UWF’s ongoing commitment to education, research, life-long learning and community is extremely impressive and has a remarkable impact on the region and a growing impact on the country,” said Singer. “As an alumna, I’m honored to carry a bachelor’s and master’s degree from UWF. As a Trustee, I’m honored to take part in the continued growth of UWF as a premier national and international university.”
Pictured: Northview High School Class of 2016 Valedictorian Bethany (Reynolds) Landis accepts her Bachelor’s Degree in Sales Management from UWF President Martha Saunders. Landis has worked with NorthEscambia.com for several years. Pictured below: Celebrating 100,000 UWF graduates with fireworks. Pictured second below: Saunders addresses members of the UWF Class of 2018 Saturday morning. Pictured third below: UWF alumna and Trustee Jill Singer was the guest speaker. Pictured bottom: Degree candidates from the UWF College of Business enter the Pensacola Bay Center. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Cantonment Rollover Crash
December 16, 2018
There were no serious injuries in a single vehicle rollover accident Saturday night in Cantonment.
A driver lost control and overturned on Becks Lake Road about 7:20 p.m. Two people refused transported to the hospital following the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The Cantonment Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS also responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Farmers Use Pink Cotton Bales To Spread A Message Of Hope
December 16, 2018
Farmers across North Escambia used huge pink cotton bales during the harvest season to spread a message of hope.
The plastic bale wraps are pink — really, really John Deere pink. The pink cotton bales have lined the highways as they awaited transportation to the cotton gin. John Deere makes the pink bale wrappers available for breast cancer awareness and a way for farmers to show support for those battling breast cancer.
The pink wraps, at about $12-14 per bale, don’t cost the producer any more than the traditional yellow.
Pictured: Cotton baled and wrapped in pink wrappers along Highway 97 in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Christmas Bicycle Giveaway Held In Cantonment
December 16, 2018
A bicycle giveaway was held Saturday in Cantonment with the Cantonment Rotary Club, Cantonment Improvement Committee, Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
