Beulah Road Safety Audit Delivered

Beulah road is becoming the major north/south connector in Beulah between the soon to be 4-laned 9-Mile Road (state road) and Mobile Hwy (state road).  This is where much of the traffic in Beulah goes through or comes from daily.  Over the last several years, we have been able to get some very beneficial improvements made to this road (resurfaced, light added at mobile hwy, stormwater project completed on the southeast portion), and I am working on getting even more upgrades done.  If all goes according to plan, we will get a widening and shoulder project on the stretch of Beulah Road between 9-Mile Road and Mobile Hwy--and eventually this will be a state road which theoretically will increase funding opportunities for continuing improvements.  In the report I just received on this road a day ago from staff, some interesting facts and figures are presented.  Currently this road serves about 6,000 cars daily, with a capacity of serving between 14-17,000 daily.  It is currently rated "B" based upon this.  You can read the full report here, and/or see the first four pages below.

Progress Report on Intersection Project at Beulah Road and Mobile Hwy

This graph indicates the current status of the project to improve the intersection and add a traffic signal at Mobile Hwy and Beulah Road.

The project to improve the intersection at Beulah Road and Mobile Highway is moving along--albeit not as quickly as anyone wants.  There have been some delays, but the project is moving forward.

As you can see from the most recent progress report, above, the contract is essentially at a 70% completion stage right now, and the anticipated date of final completion is now slated to be March 2, 2019.

This project will be an incredible improvement for this rapidly growing portion of Beulah--and it should not have taken as long as it has to get it done.

But March 2nd will be here before we know it, and the improvement to that intersection will make this stretch of roadway in our community much safer--so I say "better late than never!"

Lane Closures (Nightly from 7PM - 5AM for four days) Possible Next Week on Beulah Road

Area of potential lane closure 7PM-5AM daily for 3-4 days (and proposed detour route) for construction commencing next Monday in Beulah to add improvements and signalization to the intersection of Mobile Highway/Beulah Road

As the project to provide a signalized intersection at Mobile Highway at Beulah Road moves forward, several evening's worth of construction may necessitate the closure of a section of Beulah Road from 7PM-5AM for 3-4 days potentially beginning next Monday, June 4th.

At this point this information is tentative, however due to the construction planned for this section of the road I believe this will happen.  From the contractor's email:

"we have been contracted by the FDOT to perform the intersection improvements at SR 10A (US 90/Mobile Hwy) and CR 99 (Beulah Road), Contract No. E3R02... Our first work activity involves the installation of three (3) 18” RCP pipe crossings under Beulah Rd north of Mobile Hwy. Reference the attached Plan Sheet for specific locations. We reviewed installing the crossings half-way across the road in one operation and under a lane closure. It was discussed that due to the existing, narrow 10’ lane widths on Beulah Rd and little to no grass shoulder, the movement of traffic through the work zone would be unsafe due to the existing drop-off hazards presented by the existing ditches along Beulah Rd. We are proposing the implementation of nightly road closures on Beulah Rd from Mobile Hwy to Beulah Church Rd. Please reference the attached drawing representing the requested road closure. The drawing provides the anticipated work zone and area of closure as well as the proposed detour.  In addition, we are coordinating with ECUA to adjust their existing water main on the west side of Beulah Rd during our proposed road closure as their water main is approximately only 1’ from the existing edge of pavement.  Please review our request for County approval of a nightly road closure of Beulah Rd from Mobile Hwy to Beulah Church Rd for approximately 3-4 days tentatively starting 6/4/2018. The excavations will be backfilled any drop-off hazards addressed at the end of each work period to maintain traffic in its regular pattern during daytime hours."

Although nobody enjoys road construction delays--they are a necessary part of road construction projects.  I believe that once this long overdue project is completed at the very dangerous intersection, the small number of evening's worth of delays will have been well worth the inconvenience.

Constituent Email Pushes Government to Fix a Safety Issue.....Quickly

Within one month of receiving a complaint about this roadway entrance and how some drivers were not following the signs and making illegal left turns creating a safety hazard---within one month the state has now fixed the issue!

I received a constituent email last month about an annoying and potentially unsafe issue at a roadway entrance to Wal Mart on Mobile Highway..... from the email:

"I want to bring to your attention something that is becoming increasingly dangerous in our neighborhood. The Walmart market across from the fairgrounds has been a blessing for us. However, there are those who choose to violate traffic laws and are making it dangerous to even be in the parking lot.

Allow me to explain:

There are 3 entrances to Walmart from Mobile highway.  The one in the middle is a right turn only to enter and exit meaning those that are coming from Beulah and turning Left into the market must either use the 1st or the 3rd entrance. The 2nd entrance only permits someone to turn Right into the lot &that is only if they are coming from the East.

 I've noticed more and more frequently that people utilizing that 2nd entrance to turn left. It happens at least once a week where I am almost hit by somebody turning illegally here. Last week some idiot came in through the exit turn lane (@ 30 miles an hour) and literally almost T boned me! It was very scary because my son was in the car with me and would have been directly hit by this man. I've spoken with the manager at Walmart and he suggested I contact you. They have had many complaints about people turning illegally there. My proposal would be to put up those yellow Poles in the center line to prevent people from turning left there. I've seen them utilized with success on Pine Forest Rd at the interstate entrance.

What do you think?" 

After I received this email, I sent it to the roads department.  They, in turn, sent it to the state roads department, FDOT.  Fast forward a month--and SHAZAM!!--I get this email from staff, below:

"Thanks to excellent coordination between the County, FDOT, and FDOT’s contractor, the flexible delineators were installed in just over a month from the time of the request.  The photo, looking southeast, below was from yesterday evening.  Please let me know if you need anything else.

 My personal thanks to all involved to make this happen for our concerned residents.  We make a great team."

Who says government always moves at a snail's pace?!?

Beulah/Mobile Highway Intersection Improvement and Stoplight Project Moves Forward...

See details below from FDOT today...

Latest Traffic Light and Intersection Improvement Project Information for Beulah Rd. and Mobile Hwy.

Here is the very latest chronology for the long awaited project to improve the intersection of Mobile Highway and Beulah road, including the addition of a stoplight.  This project is moving forward, here is the latest information direct from FDOT:

Letting:  12/14/2017       

Anticipated Award: 01/08/2018

Anticipated Execution: 01/30/2018*

Anticipated NTP:  2/27/2018

This Contract has 210 Contract Days (plus holidays, weather, added work, etc.).

This Contract also has 30 days for acquisition time for signal equipment.

Bid Amount $1,508,857.51

Beulah Road Mobile Highway Intersection Light and Improvement Project De-funded!

This weekend I have been busy.  I've been making calls and writing emails. I've talked to some of the most powerful elected and appointed officials in the state;  I'm concerned because a VERY important project that was just at the cusp of commencement is being back-burnered.

The $2 Million in State Funding for the Beulah Road/Mobile Highway Intersection Project has been re-allocated to different projects in Escambia County.

This isn't just any old project--this is a tremendously important transportation safety project for Beulah in District 1.  So to those residents in Beulah that want to help with something that is of tremendous importance--help me get this project back on track.  I'm asking for your help.

The project  to add a traffic light and intersection improvements at Mobile Highway at Beulah Road has been discussed for many years as the number of crashes has grown geometrically, along with serious injury crashes like this one.

My predecessor on the BCC Wilson Robertson has worked hard to make this happen;  I have pressed for this.  The residents wanted this--and it has been presented to the residents in Beulah at a series of public meetings just last summer.  It was coming, it was funded in the FY 18 Work plan--meaning a contract for this project was going to be let sometime in August or September, and construction could have begun as early as this coming November.

That is all changed now.  see the below email from Thursday evening....

So in order to get this project funded and back on track, I'm going to work very closely with my counterparts on the Board, interested District 1 constituents, the road staff, administrator Brown, as well as with our local delegation of lawmakers--several of whom I have spoken to this weekend.

This is too important to just let go.  A brand new middle school is coming to Beulah, massive growth is happening here, this intersection is only going to get busier and busier--and these improvements were desperately needed because this intersection is DANGEROUS!