Public Comment Period Ends Today For Hurricane Sally Infrastructure Grant Projects
March 20, 2023
A public comment period closes today on Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program projects. The program is designed to fund fund infrastructure restoration and hardening projects in communities impacted by Hurricane Sally.
The Escambia County Commission has selected five project to prioritize:
- Energy-efficient Escambia County Transit Center and solar-powered bus shelters with ADA upgrades
- Upgrades to the Pensacola Bay Center
- Indoor multi-use facility at Ashton Brosnaham Park
- Beach Haven stormwater and septic-to-sewer project
- 11 stormwater projects in Escambia County:
- Carver Park Phase 2
- Brickyard Road
- Woodrun Bridge Replacement
- Pensacola High School Drainage Improvements
- Oakfield Estates/Palafox Street
- Monroe Avenue
- Gulf Beach Highway Pipe Replacement
- Vista Park
- Muldoon Road Drainage Improvements
- Bayou Grande Villas
- Olive Road Street and Drainage
The comment period is open until March 20. Public comments can be email to sallyrecoverygrant@myescambia.com.
ECUA Reports 1,000+ Gallon Sewage Spill On Hamilton Crossing Drive
March 20, 2023
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority reported a sewage spill over 1,000 gallons Sunday just north of East Kingsfield Road.
The sanitary sewer overflow at 2026 Hamilton Crossing Drive was due to a broken 4-inch PVC force main. The spill was over 1000 gallons and did enter a storm drain. ECUA said samples have been requested to determine if the flow did reach a body of water.
10,000 Pound Food Giveaway Tuesday Afternoon In Cantonment
March 20, 2023
The Cantonment Improvement Committee will hold a drive-thru 10,000 pound food giveaway Tuesday afternoon, March 21 at Carver Park on Webb Street.
The food distribution will begin at 3 p.m. and continue while supplies last for anyone in need of food. People should line up their vehicles, single file on Webb Street facing north; food will be loaded into vehicles. Identification is required.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Northview High Names Students Of The Month
March 20, 2023
Northview High School recently named their Students of the Month for February. They are Marabelle Hamilton and Heath Parker. They are pictured with Principal Michael Sherrill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gas Prices Up Over The Last Week, But AAA Says A Decline Is Likely
March 20, 2023
Florida gas prices jumped 15 cents per gallon last week, but relief may soon be on the way. On Sunday, the state average for regular unleaded was $3.46 per gallon. That’s 12 cents less than this year’s high of $3.58 per gallon.
The average price per gallon in Escambia County was over a quarter lower at $3.20. A low of $3.13 was available Sunday night at a station on Highway 29 in Cantonment, while Pensacola prices were as low as $3 at a station on East Nine Mile Road.
“There were significant losses in the oil market last week which should enable gas prices to move lower again,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The failure of two U.S. banks raised concerns of a global recession that could eventually hamper fuel demand.”
The U.S. price of oil dropped 13% last week, for a total loss of 17% over two weeks. Friday’s settlement of $66.74 per barrel was the lowest since December 2021. Interestingly, the gasoline market did not take quite as big of a hit, likely because strong springtime demand coupled with refinery maintenance season and the switch to summer gasoline is serving as somewhat of a buoy. Regardless, gasoline futures dropped 24 cents through the past two weeks, which is an indicator that pump prices should move lower, unless fundamentals rebound this week.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Public Hearing Tuesday On $13 Million To Renovate Old Century High Gym, Fix Town Bridges
March 19, 2023
Century will hold a public hearing this week as they consider applying for grants of $10 million to renovate an old gym and $3 million for bridge and drainage repairs.
A $10 million grant award would be used to renovate or rebuild the old Century High School gymnasium for use as a multipurpose facility that could also serve as a hurricane or other disaster shelter. Century High closed over 25 years ago; the 16,500 square foot building was constructed in 1960.
The town will also seek $3 million to replace a failed bridge on Freedom Road that has been closed for three years, and make drainage improvements to two other bridges that suffered embankment erosion during Hurricane Sally.
The funding, if awarded, would be from Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Small Cities Hurricane Sally Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding. through the Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program.
The town is currently soliciting public comment on the proposed projects by email to Kristina Wood at kwood@centuryflorida.us or by calling Century Town Hall at (850) 256-3208.The deadline is Monday. At 7 p.m. Tuesday, a public hearing will be held at Century Town Hall.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Vehicle Flips Into Ravine In Highway 29 Crash
March 19, 2023
A driver is recovering after his vehicle careened into a ravine on Highway 29 Saturday in Cantonment.
It happened across from the Grandview Florist, just south of Archer Road.. The Florida Highway Patrol said a 66-year old man from Bagdad, Florida, lost control with his vehicle leaving the roadway, going airborne and flipping over into a wooded ravine between the side of Highway 29 at nearby train tracks.
Firefighters used an extension ladder to reach the vehicle and the driver. He was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening. There were no other occupants in the vehicle.
FHP is continuing their investigation.
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Bid Awarded For Upgraded Lighting At Northview, Tate, Escambia High Softball Fields
March 19, 2023
The Escambia County District has awarded a bid at just under three-quarters of million dollars for upgraded softball field lighting at Northview, Tate and Escambia high schools.
On a 5-0 vote, the contract was awarded by the Escambia County School Board to low bidder Bill Smith Electric for $738,645. One other bid was received from Gulf Electric for $799,961.
Pictured: Softball under the lights at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Rep. Matt Gaetz Moves His Primary Local Office Out Of Escambia County
March 19, 2023
Rep. Matt Gaetz has moved his primary district office out of Escambia County.
“I’m excited today to announce the relocation of our flagship District Office to the Bob Sikes Education Center in Crestview, Florida. While my staff will still maintain a presence in Pensacola, the new Crestview office will allow us to have greater accessibility to all Northwest Floridians as it is more centralized in the Panhandle. Northwest Floridians have expressed an increased desire to meet with our district staff in person, and my team is ready and eager to serve you,” said Gaetz.
Constituents of Florida’s First District can still reach the main office line at (850) 479-1183
Heads Up! Here Are This Weeks Road Construction Slow Spots
March 19, 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:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, March 19 through Saturday, March 25 between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Crews will be performing miscellaneous paving operations and working on the bridge’s wrong way detection system.
- 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 April. 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.
- 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 Sunday, March 19 through Thursday, March 23 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as crews pave 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 nighttime lane closures on Lillian Highway, between U.S. 98 and Blue Angel Parkway, Monday, March 20 to Friday, March 24 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Crews will be performing drainage and shoulder widening work.
- 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 outside lane closures on Navy Boulevard southbound, from Barrancas Avenue to the Bayou Grande Bridge, Friday, March 17 through Friday, March 24 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Crews will be working on curb, gutters, and sidewalks.
- Pace Boulevard (State Road (S.R.) 292) Resurfacing from Barrancas Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue: The $4.2 million construction project to mill and resurface Barrancas Avenue from the Bayou Chico Bridge to Pace Boulevard, and Pace Boulevard from Barrancas Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue in Escambia County has been completed.
- S.R. 291 (North Davis Highway) Routine Utility Maintenance near Royce Street – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, March 20 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. for routine utility maintenance.
- S.R. 297 (Pine Forest Road) Routine Utility Maintenance at Ransley Station Boulevard – Motorists may encounter intermittent southbound turn lane closures Tuesday, March 21 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for utility maintenance.
- S.R. 29 (North Davis Highway) Routine Utility Maintenance at Copter Road – Motorists may encounter intermittent northbound turn lane closures Thursday, March 23 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. for utility maintenance.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Drivers will encounter alternating lane closures on the Pensacola Bay Bridge Sunday, March 19 through Saturday, March 25 between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Crews will be performing miscellaneous paving operations and working on the bridge’s wrong way detection system.
- U.S. 90 Bridge Replacement over Simpson River – Construction crews have temporarily shifted eastbound traffic to the westbound bridge over Simpson River. The shift is expected to be in place through March 2023. During this time, there will be two westbound lanes and one eastbound travel lane using the westbound bridge. Due to the traffic shift, there will not be dedicated bike lanes on the bridge. Drivers are urged to use extra caution as they will be temporarily sharing the bridge with cyclists. Drivers are also reminded that the speed limit is 35 mph through 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, March 19, through Friday, March 24, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- U.S. 90 Routine Utility Maintenance at Campbell Lane – Motorists may encounter intermittent lane closures Monday, March 20 through Thursday, March 23 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for routine utility maintenance.
All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.