Report on FDOT hearing on the route of the new Pensacola Bay Bridge. Toll or no toll

The Florida Department of Transportation will consider feedback from locals when deciding the blueprints of a new Pensacola Bay Bridge, tentatively set to begin construction between 2017 and 2018.

A meeting was held last night at the Pensacola Civic Center to allow the public to see drawings of the projected bridge, watch a PowerPoint presentation and speak with FDOT officials about plans for the new bridge. A comment box was also provided for people to write down their opinions and express concerns regarding the project.

“We are really early on in this process,” FDOT spokesman Ian Satter said. “Right now what we are presenting is different alternatives that people can give us an input on. Once we have the preferred alternative, we are going to study it and determine how much it will cost.”

Satter said that the cost of the new bridge is estimated at $540 million and the FDOT currently has about $100 million in shortfall.
“We have to make up that money somehow,” Satter said. “We are in a phase right now where we will be conducting an actual toll study to figure out how much the toll would be if one is needed. It’s something that could be a possibility to make up for that $100 million, but nothing is definite at this point.”

Gulf Breeze resident Brittny Still was one of the many locals at the meeting who attended to better understand the future plans for the bridge. Still said that she sees why a toll might be needed for the new bridge, but thinks it may be counterproductive.

“I hope they don’t add a toll but in the same regard, the bridge is going to cost hundreds of millions of dollars and that money has to come from somewhere,” she said. “However, a toll would eliminate the reduced traffic aspect. If there was a toll, it would only add to traffic if people have to stop their cars to pay. It defeats the purpose of decreasing traffic flow.”

There are two alternatives being considered for the Pensacola entrance of the new bridge. The fly-over alternative would have traffic from 17th Avenue turning left into a south-bound lane of the bridge being lifted up over Bayfront Parkway onto an overpass. The at-grade alternative proposes a three-lane left turn from 17th Avenue instead of an overpass. The bridge will be 10 feet higher than the current bridge, providing 65 feet of clearance at its highest point.

Still said that she prefers the fly-over alternative and thinks it would be much safer.

“It eliminates the light on 17th Avenue which would allow traffic to flow more,” Still said. “I like the plan for the Gulf Breeze entrance as well because it doesn’t eliminate any space near Wayside Park. We are years overdue for a new bridge.”