Pensacola Bay Bridge Westbound To Open On Tuesday
February 13, 2023
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will open the westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) span of the Pensacola Bay Bridge on U.S. 98 to vehicular traffic by 6 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14. The two spans of the bridge are now temporarily accommodating two east and two westbound travel lanes, but upon final completion of the project each structure will support three lanes of traffic in each direction, along with inside and outside shoulders, and 10-foot-wide multiuse paths for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The multiuse path on the eastbound (Pensacola to Gulf Breeze) bridge remains open, but the westbound path will remain closed until completed.
While there is now traffic on both spans of the bridge, multiple miscellaneous tasks remain to complete the project. These include work on the U.S. 98 tie-ins and median areas, the wayside park in Gulf Breeze, bridge painting, and other final items. Completion of the project is currently estimated for this summer.
With a construction cost of approximately $440-million, the Pensacola Bay Bridge replacement project is the largest transportation initiative in Northwest Florida history. More than 55,000 drivers travel the bridge daily between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze. The modern, six-lane structure replaces a four-lane bridge that opened in 1960.
Two, Ages 19 And 12, Critically Injured In Cantonment Dirt Bike Crash
February 13, 2023
Two young people from Cantonment were critically injured when their dirt bike crashed into a pickup truck Sunday afternoon in Cantonment.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a blue Yamaha dirt bike was traveling east on Lincoln Street toward Louis Street where driver failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with the side door of a pickup truck.
FHP said the 19-year old and 12-year old on the dirt bike were not wearing helmets. They were transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital in critical condition. The 52-year Molino man driving the pickup truck was not injured.
Photos by WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Weight Limit Lowered To Three Tons On Bridge Near Molino
February 13, 2023
Escambia County Public Works has lowered the weight limit on a 56-year old Chestnut Road Bridge to just three tons after a recent inspection.
That prevents many large private vehicles, commercial vehicles, fire trucks and school buses from crossing the bridge over Dry Creek, about a mile north of Barrineau Park Road.
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said the county is putting together an action plan to address the situation.
The bridge, constructed in 1967, is about 16 feet long and spans Dry Creek.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggie Cheerleaders Take 10th In The Nation
February 13, 2023
The Tate High School Aggie Cheerleaders competition team placed 10th in the nation Sunday at the 2023 UCA National High School Cheerleading Championships in Orlando.
There were 113 total teams that competed in the small varsity division with the Aggies.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Identity, Cause Of Death Released Yet After Human Remains Discovery In Bratt
February 13, 2023
A week after investigators returned to Bratt looking for more human remains in a wooded area, there’s still no word on an identity or cause of death.
Highly decomposed remains were first discovered by a hunter on Christmas Eve, and investigators were back in the woods on C.W. Caraway Road last Monday, February 6, with cadaver dogs. NorthEscambia.com was there as crime scene technicians, investigators, and volunteers with the cadaver dogs returned from a heavily wooded area, some carrying evidence bags.
Dan Schebler, director of operations for the District One Medical Examiner’s Office, said more evidence was located. The additional remains located last week were believed to be from the same individual as the December discovery.
For more photos, click or tap here.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said the remains are part of an ongoing death investigation, and the remains may be those of an individual in an open missing person case. The Medical Examiner’s Office will make the final identification and determination if any foul play was involved.
C.W. Caraway Road is a private dirt lane that travels north off West Highway 4, about 1.5 miles east of Northview High School.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Boys Basketball Moves Into 6A State Series
February 13, 2023
The Tate Aggies have earned a bid in the FHSAA Class 6A state championship series.
In Class 6A Region 1 quarterfinals, the No. 6 Tate Aggies (18-5) will travel about 360 miles to Orange Park to face the No. 3 Oakleaf Knights (23-1) at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Also, No. 4 Gulf Breeze (22-3) will host No. 5 Nease (18-18) at 7 p.m. Thursday.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Florida Gas Prices Drop About A Dime On Average
February 13, 2023
Florida gas prices declined for the second consecutive week, declining a total of 19 cents per gallon. During the past week, the state average dropped 10 cents.
Drivers are now paying an average price of $3.40 per gallon. That’s the lowest daily average price in a little more than three weeks (January 19th).
In Escambia County, the average per gallon was $3.25. The North Escambia low Sunday night was $3.16 at a Muscogee Road station, while Pensacola prices were as low as $3.01 at the warehouse clubs and a staton on Nine Mile Road.
The downward trend at the pump may not last much longer,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Crude oil and gasoline futures prices jumped 9% last week, almost completely erasing the losses that led to the 2-week drop at the pump. This could cause falling pump prices to plateau, or possibly inch higher in the coming weeks.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Homebuilder D.R. Horton Offers $33 Million Cash For County’s OLF-8 Property On Nine Mile Road
February 12, 2023
A homebuilder has made a $33 million cash offer for the entire OLF-8 property owned by Escambia County.
Saturday, Escambia County commissioners received the offer for 540 acres on Nine Mile Road from D.R. Horton, including a promise $1 million to be held in escrow during an inspection period.
In January 2019, Escambia County acquired the 636 acre OLF-8 helicopter field in a land swap with the U.S. Navy for property in Santa Rosa County at a total cost of about $18 million. A portion of the property was previously sold to Navy Federal to expand their campus.
“It’s a big deal for this area, and we will be nearly $20 million to the good,” Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh told NorthEscambia.com on Saturday.
A design plan is in place for the property with a combination of commerce, residential and amenities. It allocates 271 acres to commerce and industrial; 61 acres to residential including duplexes, townhomes and multifamily; 47 acres to a mixed-use center such as residential over retail and office over retail; and 45 acres to trails and public amenities such as a post office, school, day care and community garden.
D.R. Horton said the company “intends to incorporate multiple commercial and residential uses into its future master plan. (D.R. Horton) intends to approach a third-party developer with regard to the development of the commercial parcels.”
“I say we consider it,” Bergosh said. “I want to hear from my counterparts at a meeting. With $6.5 million per district, you could do a lot of good stuff.”
The February 10 offer letter requests a response within 10 days.
Pictured: Images from the OLF-8 Master Plan accepted by the Escambia County Commission in June 2021.
Century Youth Learn About Robotics
February 12, 2023
Youth in Century were introduced to robotics during a program recently at the Wesley Chapel CME Church.
Last fall, we told you about how the Century Blackcats youth football program is looking to change their playbook from football to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education during the off season.
From Ozobots that can be programmed with colored lines to computer-coded Sphero Balls, the youth had a chance to try their hands at robotics.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Organizers hope to have STEM programs in place for the youth this summer.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Inmate Serving Life Accused Of Assaulting Century Correctional Institution Officer
February 12, 2023
Inmate Ibraheem Jackson assaulted an officer at Century Correctional Institution, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
“Staff responded appropriately, and the inmate was subdued,” FDC said.
Jackson is serving a life sentence out of Broward County for a 2015 armed burglary, in addition to a long list of convictions for grand theft, burglary and related charges.
He was transferred after the assault to the Santa Rosa Annex.