This Week’s Road Construction Trouble Spots Are…
May 9, 2023
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:
- State Road (S.R.) 289 (College Boulevard) Pensacola Grand Fiesta Parade 2023 – Drivers will encounter road closures from Cervantes Street eastbound to North 12th Avenue Saturday, May 6 from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. for the Grand Fiesta Parade.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, May 7 through Saturday, May 13 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as crews perform striping work. On Tuesday, May 9, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach.
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Escambia County Welcome Center – The truck parking lot at the Escambia County Interstate 10 Welcome Center, located at mile marker four, will be temporarily closed until summer when the Welcome Center improvements are complete. The front and middle car parking lots are open.
- East Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90A) Roadway Improvements from Chemstrand Road to East of Baldridge Drive – The bicycle lanes are temporarily closed to allow crews to widen the turn lanes and construct new five-foot bicycle lanes. In addition, the speed limit on this section of East Nine Mile Road has been reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph as vehicles and bicycles will share the roadway. The closure and speed limit reduction will be in place until the project is complete next summer.
- · Pensacola Boulevard (U.S. 29) Resurfacing from Brent Lane (State Road (S.R.) 296) to North of I-10 – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures and intermittent turn lane closures Sunday, May 8 through Thursday, May 11 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews place thermoplastic pavement markings on the roadway.
- Lillian Highway (S.R. 298) Resurfacing from North of U.S. 98 to East of Fairfield Drive (S.R. 727) and Lillian Highway at Blue Angel Parkway (S.R. 173) – Drivers will encounter shoulder and lane closures on Lillian Highway, between U.S. 98 and Blue Angel Parkway, Monday, May 8 through Friday, May 12 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Crews will be performing drainage and shoulder construction.
- Navy Boulevard (S.R. 295) Resurfacing from North of the Bayou Grande Bridge to Gulf Beach Highway/Barrancas Avenue (S.R. 292) – Drivers will encounter alternating nightly lane closures, from Barrancas Avenue to the Bayou Grande Bridge, between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday, May 7 through Friday, May 12. Crews will be milling and resurfacing the roadway.
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century - Drivers on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) will encounter a lane shift and lane closures through May. The two U.S. 29 northbound travel lanes and the center turn lane will be closed between Hatties Boulevard and East Cottage Street. During the closure, one northbound and one southbound lane will remain open using the current southbound travel lanes. Signage will be in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- Sorrento Road (S.R. 292) Resurfacing from the Theo Baars Bridge to Bauer Road - Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures, between Innerarity Point Road and Bauer Road, from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, May 7 through Thursday, May 11. Crews will be placing sod along the roadway, as well as performing signal work at the Bauer Road Intersection.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 (S.R. 30/Gulf Breeze Parkway/Navarre Parkway) Resurfacing of select areas from Abercrombie Road to Calle De Palencia Street - Drivers on U.S. 98 (Navarre Parkway), between S.R. 87 and Calle De Palencia Street, may encounter intermittent nightly lane closures from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform construction activities.
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, May 7 through Saturday, May 13 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as crews perform striping work. On Tuesday, May 9, U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) will have lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. due to Bands on the Beach.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Replacement over Simpson River – Widening of the westbound bridge over Simpson River has been completed. The westbound structure now supports two westbound lanes, two eastbound lanes, and dedicated bike lanes. Drivers may encounter temporary and intermittent lane closures on the bridge for crews to address any maintenance issues that may arise. Drivers are reminded that the speed limit is 35 mph throughout the work zone.
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Point Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between S.R. 281 and Bayshore Road Sunday, May 7 through Friday, May 12, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- I-10 Resurfacing from S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard) to East of S.R. 87 – Motorists will encounter nighttime east and westbound lane closures Monday, May 8 through Friday, May 12 for paving operations.
- S.R. 196 (Bayfront Parkway) Routine Maintenance near 9th Avenue – Motorists will encounter westbound outside lane closures Monday, May 8 through Friday, May 19 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for landscape maintenance and debris removal.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Man Leads Deputies On Chase, Crashes Into Power Pole
May 8, 2023
An early morning police chase ended when the suspect crashed a stolen vehicle into a power pole in Cantonment on Monday.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies spotted 37-year old Winston Joseph Nobles of Cantonment driving a stolen vehicle on Pensacola Boulevard and Hannah Street in Ensley. He fled, with deputies giving chase.
During the chase, Nobles crashed the vehicle into the utility pole and a convenience store sign at Chemstrand and Kingsfield roads about 3:15 a.m.
The vehicle was stolen during an armed burglary inside the Pensacola city limits, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Escambia County Fire Rescue said they had to extricate a passenger following the crash. Nobles and the passenger were transported to the hospital by Escambia County EMS.
Nobles was released from the hospital and booked into the Escambia County Jail at 9:17 a.m. on a felony charge of fleeing and eluding with disregard to safety and causing injury. He was being held without bond due to a bond revocation in another case.
Nobles is expected to face more charges from the Pensacola Police Department for the armed burglary and vehicle theft.
About 1,000 Florida Power & Light customers lost power as a result of downed power lines.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Suspect That Was Holding A Hostage Shot And Killed After Standoff, ECSO Says
May 8, 2023
A man with 58 prior felony convictions has been identified as the suspect shot and killed by a deputy Sunday night in Escambia County after about five hours of negotiations.
Sheriff Chip Simmons said 53-year old Ronnie Kenneth Clark was wanted on a failure to appear warrant on a meth-related charge and a violation of probation warrant. He had warrants in both Florida and Alabama.
A bail bondsman from Bay Minette and deputies believed Clark had a gun, which was later determined to be two objects taped together to resemble a firearm (pictured below inset), Simmons said. He also texted two people saying that he had a gun and was going to “shoot it out” with deputies, according to the sheriff.
About 5 p.m., the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 4700-block of Helton Lane off Klondike Road for the warrant service, where Clark reportedly threatened both the deputies and the bondsman.
For hours, he held a woman hostage inside a tent on the property before attempting to leave. Simons said Clark was holding a knife to the woman’s throat, got into a a vehicle and attempted to leave. That’s when he was shot and killed by a SWAT officer.
Simmons said the woman is being treated at a local hospital for injuries. He said she was struck when the bullet either traveled through the suspect or fragmented. An update on her condition was not available.
“It’s obvious to us that we spent five hours trying to end this peacefully, and we cannot let them leave,” Simmons said during a Monday morning press conference. “In situations like this, we care about human life. We care more about a hostage than we do the hostage taker, and the deputy had an opportunity to end this…Our criminal escalated these events, and it cost him his life.”
“He threatened our deputies; he threatened the bondsman. He held a knife to the throat of a hostage, and he tried to get away. If you try to do these things, you are not long for this world, quite honestly. You play this type of stupid game, and you get what you get.”
The knife was recovered at the scene (pictured first below), the sheriff noted.
As is standard procedure, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the officer involved shooting, and the deputy has been placed on administrative leave.
Legislature Approves $1.257 Million To Replace Century’s Freedom Road Bridge; $628K Toward Failed Prison Water Well
May 8, 2023
The Florida Legislature has approved a state budget that includes replacement of the Freedom Road Bridge in Century and half the money needed to replace a failed town water well serving the Century Correctional Institution.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has not yet signed the budget that includes $1.257 million for the bridge and over $628,000 for the water well.
Freedom Road Bridge
The 2023-24 Florida budget includes $1,257,000 to replace a Town of Century bridge on Freedom Road.
On January 29, 2020, the town suddenly closed the bridge on Freedom Road, just east of Jefferson Avenue. Photos obtained by NorthEscambia.com a few days later showed the dangerous conditions that led to the emergency closure. Several pilings under the wooden bridge were no longer properly supporting the structure, and some of the pilings were split or had extreme deterioration (pictured above).
The closure turned Freedom Road into a cul-de-sac with one way in and one way out for residents, including the Camellia Gardens apartment complex.
According to the legislative funding request by Rep. Michelle Salzman, replacing the bridge will improve emergency vehicle access, provide a shorter and more direct route to the nearest hospital in Jay for some residents, and provide better access for residents in the area.
It is anticipated that the $1.297 million will cover construction and other costs like engineering and surveying. No matching funds are required from the town, and it is estimated that the project could be complete by the end of 2024.
Town of Century Well No. 3
The budget includes $628,500 to replace the Town of Century’s Well No. 3, which exclusively serves Century Correctional Institution, half of the $1.297 million that was requested.
After multiple problems, the well suffered a catastrophic failure during the summer of 2022 and no longer provided water to the prison for staff and inmates. A shaft shattered into a dozen or more pieces and fell to the bottom of the well.
Water service was restored through a permanent interconnect from Central Water Works to the Century water system that was completed in late May 2020 to provide a dependable water supply to the prison. The interconnect was installed after the town’s water well that was the sole water supply for the prison suffered a repairable failure in early May 2020. That forced the town to use two-inch fire hoses from a Central Water Works fire hydrant on the south side of Tedder Road to the prison on the north side of the road until a permanent solution was in place and the well was repaired.
A temporary pump provides some water, but it must be supplemented by water from the two wells that supply the town’s citizens or from the Center Water Works interconnect. “Operation of these additional
supplies is manually controlled and subject to interruptions,” according to Rep. Michelle Salzman’s funding request.
Pictured top and inset: The failed Freedom Road bridge in Century. Pictured bottom inset: The Town of Century water tower above the failed water well that serves the Century Correctional Institution. Pictured below: At one point, water flowed across Tedder Road through these fire hoses to provide service for the prison. An interconnect under the roadway now provides a backup water supply. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
These May Be The Cutest Kids You See All Week
May 8, 2023
These may be the cutest kids you see all week.
Ernest Ward Middle School and mom Cheeto are celebrating the arrival of three goats — twin girls and a new baby boy.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gas Prices Down Another 9 Cents Last Week
May 8, 2023
Florida gas prices declined for the second consecutive week. The state average declined 9 cents per gallon last week. Florida’s state average has now declined a total of 16 cents, since setting a new 2023 high of $3.72 per gallon on April 21st.
On Sunday, Florida drivers paid an average price of $3.56 per gallon. That’s the lowest daily average price in three weeks. In Escambia County, drivers paid an average of $3.22 a gallon. North Escambia stations were as low as $3.11 on Highway 29 in Cantonment, while the lowest price across the county was $2.92 at stations on Pensacola Boulevard, Nine MIle Road and Airport Boulevard.
“Florida gas prices should move even lower this week,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Pump prices are still coming back down from the spike caused by the flooding in South Florida. Additionally, the oil market suffered its third consecutive week of declines, which should apply more downward pressure on prices at the pump.”
Photo Gallery: Sawmill Day Festival And Car Show
May 8, 2023
Large crowds attended the Sawmill Day Festival and Car Show in Century on Saturday.
The day included entertainment, free history museum tours, grilled hamburger meals, crafts, free exhibits, a car show and more.
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For festival show photos, click here.
For a car show photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pérez Dominates As Blue Wahoos Finish Series With Win Over M-Braves
May 8, 2023
Eury Pérez may have just left a lasting impression with the Blue Wahoos.
If so, it became a memorable one.
Pérez, ranked as the top prospect in the Miami Marlins minor league system, overcame a first-pitch home run to start the game then matched his best start of the season as the Blue Wahoos hung on in the ninth inning Sunday for a 5-4 victory against the Mississippi Braves.
A crowd of 4,567 at Blue Wahoos Stadium watched the home team win for the fifth time this week and 10th win in the past 11 games, enabling the Blue Wahoos (16-11) to finish the first month of the season with the best record in Southern League.
This was the third consecutive strong outing by Pérez, rated the No. 11 overall prospect in Minor League Baseball by MLB Pipeline. He dazzled Sunday by retiring the next 12 batters in order following the leadoff home run. He threw just 39 pitches through four innings, then pitched out of a bases-loaded jam get out of the fifth inning when Cal Conley was called for runner’s interference on a slow roller that Pérez fielded.
That became the game’s pivotal moment.
Pérez (3-1, 2.32 ERA) finished the sixth inning throwing 79 pitches in the game, 51 for strikes with nine strikeouts and two walks. In the sixth inning he threw a 100 mph fastball, followed by a 99-mph fastball, to coax a flyout from M-Braves slugger Drew Lugbauer, the club’s all-time home run leader, for the final out and final batter Perez faced.
The Blue Wahoos offense backed Pérez with a four-run third inning, highlighted by Griffin Conine’s solo homer, followed by Nasim Nuñez hitting a two-run blast. The other run scored on an infield throwing error.
The Blue Wahoos made it 5-1 in the fourth inning when Will Banfield walked, moved over to third on a pair of hits, and scored on a bases-loaded balk.
Conine completed a big weekend at the plate by going 2-for-3 with a run scored and his second homer in two days. He now has three for the season. Nuñez also went 2-for-3.
The first two relievers to follow Pérez, Patrick Murphy and Jefry Yan, pitched scoreless innings.
But the game got suspenseful in the ninth inning after the M-Braves hit a pair of home runs against Austin Roberts to trim a 5-1 lead into having the tying run at the plate with none out.
After Blue Wahoos pitching coach Dave Eiland visited the mound to calm Roberts, the righthander retired the last three batters in order to end the game.
It led to the large crowd being able to enter the outfield to toss baseballs and have kids 12-under run the bases in what has become a popular Sunday event.
The Blue Wahoos will have Monday off before traveling to Birmingham, Ala. to begin a six-game series against the Birmingham Barons, the Chicago White Sox affiliate, beginning on Tuesday at Regions Field. The Barons took four of six games from the Blue Wahoos in their only Pensacola meeting two weeks ago.
written by Bill Vilona, photos Blue Wahoos
Escambia Fire Regional Training Facility In Gonzalez Gets $1 Million In Legislative Funding
May 8, 2023
The Florida Legislature has approved $1 million toward the Escambia County Regional Fire Regional Training Facility in Gonzalez.
The funds are the state’s 2023-24 budget, which has not yet been signed by the governor.
The facility will be located at the former Escambia Charter School at 319 90 & 9 Ranch Road, just behind Gonzalez Utilities on Old Chemstrand Road.
The project will include the construction of a live fire training building and remodeling of an existing building with classrooms at a kitchen.
“Activities will vary from classroom leadership settings to hands on practical exercises including live fire training, roof ventilation, search and victim removal, forcible entry, rope operations, and shoring. Additional training on the site will be driving, water supply, land navigation, and more. Partnerships with local and regional law enforcement departments would allow for building clearing, classroom classes, rope training, or any need that the design of the building would support; this would also be applicable for EMS in patient removal and emergency management in local disaster exercises,” according to a legislative funding request.
The county said implementing a fire training facility for ECFR will be instrumental in the success of the department and improving training needs. ECFR will be able to train career and volunteer firefighters faster and specifically to the standard operating guidelines and expectations.
The Escambia Charter School closed after 22 years at the end of the 2017-2018 school year due to declining enrollment.
Photos/map for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
$4.7 Million Highway 29 Project In Century Remains At A Standstill Over A Water Pipe
May 7, 2023
Work on a $4.7 million Highway 29 construction in Century remains at a standstill weeks discovery of an unmapped water pipe that must be relocated.
Early this year, two northbound travel lanes and the center turn lane were closed between Hatties Boulevard and East Cottage Street with traffic shifted into just two lanes. It was that a normal traffic pattern would return by the end of April, but that was put on hold until about the end of May.
What the Florida Department of Transportation termed an “unknown Town of Century water main” was discovered under the roadway during excavation. Two and a half weeks ago, FDOT told us that it should be relocated in about two weeks.
Construction on the resurfacing project will continue after the water main is relocated.
Century’s engineer said the problem pipe is a 2-inch water main, and there are no service disruptions anticipated during the work.
Pictured: Highway 29 traffic in Century remains at two lanes during a construction zone as seen Saturday afternoon, May 6. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
