Beulah Road Improvements on the Way

 

A public meeting will be held this evening at 5:30 in Beulah at the Senior Center on Woodside Road.  There will also be an online component to this hybrid meeting on the same topic.

This is an FDOT roadway and project--but it is an important artery road in D1.

FDOT encourages public participation and involvement in the planning of this project which will include some new sidewalks, drainage, and resurfacing.  Here is the press release from FDOT, below:

State Road (S.R.) 99 (Beulah Road) Resurfacing Project

 Hybrid Public Meeting

 Chipley, Fla. – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will hold a hybrid public meeting concerning the resurfacing project on S.R. 99 (Beulah Road) from

U.S. 90 (Mobile Highway) to Isaacs Lane in Escambia County on Tuesday,

Nov. 7, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. (CST).

 Citizens are encouraged to attend the virtual meeting at www.nwflroads.com/virtualmeetings. Those who are unable to participate virtually may attend the meeting in-person at the Beulah Senior Citizen Center, 7425 Woodside Road, Pensacola. Pre-registration is required for the virtual format and encouraged for in-person attendees. The same materials will be presented for each format.

 The intent of this project is to resurface existing travel and turn lanes.

Additional improvements include:

• Adding a sidewalk from Beulah Academy of Science to Nine Mile Road.
• Replacing a cross drain at Beulah Church Road intersection for improved drainage.

No additional right-of-way is required. Bids for construction are scheduled to occur fall 2024.

 Maps, drawings, and other information will be on display. FDOT representatives will be available to discuss proposed improvements, answer questions, and receive comments. 

 This meeting is being held without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status.

 For more information visit the Florida Department of Transportation District Three on the web at www.nwflroads.com, follow us on Twitter @myfdot_nwfl and Instagram @myfdot_nwfl,  like us on Facebook at MyFDOTNWFL, or subscribe to us on YouTube @MyFDOTNWFL.

 

We Need the Public's Help to Fix Sorrento Road---Here's How YOU can Help Us! Part I

There is an upcoming project priorities public workshop online at which time the public can press the state to move the project to 4-lane Sorrento Road forward.  But we need the public's help to make this happen.  Will you attend and lend your voice to this effort? 5-11-2022 at 2:00 PM Online......

Because I have served on the Florida Alabama Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) for more than 5 years- once year as Chairman,  I know all too well the issues and challenges of Sorrento Road.  I have driven it many, many times over the years---going all the way back to when I got my first car in 1984.

Others know it's dangerous, too.

After my first blog post on this topic on April 18th, local news outlets investigated.  In a series of published media reports that followed-----the issues with Sorrento were spotlighted. Sorrento Road is such a dangerous roadway--it has tallied up an incredible 85 traffic collissions over the last 15 months according to the PNJ's report.  Including multiple fatalities.

It is a narrow, dark road where folks speed between Perdido Key and West Pensacola/Pensacola--and sadly this roadway has seen far too many fatalities.  White crosses signifying the loss of loved ones dot the side of this roadway.

Something has to get done, this has to be fixed.  But why has this not happened sooner?

The state had a plan to 4-lane this roadway--as a part of a larger plan to 4-lane Perdido Key Drive, Sorrento, portions of Blue Angel Parkway and other roadways to create an alternate West to East 4-lane hurricane evacuation route out of Escambia County. but the inertia to make it happen evanesced in 2014-2015 after the departure of Assistant County Administrator Larry Newsome and the former commissioner in D2.  Sorrento got lost in the death of that project and subsequently  languished far down the list of TPO priorities.

Since that time,  the Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organizations has prioritized other projects ahead of Sorrento.  

But now is the time for the citizens that drive this road to make their voices heard.  The TPO will be holding a series of public input sessions to receive citizen suggestions as to what the prioritization of Sorrento Road should be.  This is where YOU, the citizen, comes in.  We need,  no,   I NEED--your voice to be heard on Sorrento Road if you feel the state need to make it a higher priority than number 18 on the list.  Without a higher prioritization this road will not be 4-laned.

So those that are passionate about Sorrento road can attend one or all of the following workshops and speak on the topic of Sorrento Road.  Next Week's meeting will be online.  Scroll to the bottom of this

FDOT's Bridge Project Creates Woes on the Citizens and the Workers.....Who is Ultimately Responsible Though?

 I received this email, below, from a frustrated constituent today...........my response to his email is below..

"Hi my name is XXXXXXXXX. I live in Pensacola and work on Pensacola beach. I am XX years old, and I have managed XXXXXXXXXXXXXX since I was 18. I have a XXXXXX and XXXXXXXXX. I’m a normal young adult with an appropriate amount of debt and my family will not survive this without your help!

 Corona virus has obviously been tough on everyone but especially the tourist destination of which I work. It was tough but we were going to survive. Then hurricane sally came and for some reason XXXXXXXX decided not to move their equipment and destroyed the connection between the city of Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, and Pensacola beach. 

I’m fine with driving farther to get to work, I’m fine dealing with the traffic, I’m fine with the challenge they have made for me to spend time with my family as well, since they all live in Gulf Breeze. But the part that realllllly sucks for me is my job will not make it through this and it will be very difficult for me to find a job that can support my family like the one I had before XXXXXXXXX negligence. I have worked very hard my entire life to get where I am now and it seems to have been ripped away from me out of no where. 

 Please hold XXXXXXXXX Liable for their actions, not only for me but also my friends, family, and neighbors. They have destroyed this town and we need your help to get back on our feet! 

 

Thanks for your time. 

XXXXX  XXXXXXX

 

XXXXXXXXXXX"

My Response...

XXXXXXXXX,

Thanks for your email—and I completely sympathize with your situation.  Like you, I am extremely concerned about this FDOT project and their contractor that is conducting the work.

As a county commissioner, I have limited ability to do much to resolve your situation.  We are working with the city of Pensacola and FDOT through our legislative delegation and the TPO to stand up a Ferry Service between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze.  I know this will do little to help—but it may help with your daily commute.  And we are all trying to keep the pressure on FDOT to get this bridge fixed on time!

Because this is an interruption in your income directly related to the barge/bridge issue—I strongly suggest you consider speaking with an attorney about your situation.  There are some great firms in town that may be able to assist.  And believe me:  Every business in both Gulf Breeze proper AND Pensacola Beach (XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX) will be seeking claims for business interruption, which they will more than likely be successful at.  But this may not trickle down to the employees like you.  So I’d say look after your interests, and those of your family, by speaking with an attorney.

Additionally—I would strongly suggest that you speak with our elected Florida Legislative delegation—to include Senator Doug Broxson and Representative Alex Andrade—to describe your dissatisfaction with FDOT’s project and their contractor.  They MUST be held accountable (FDOT). 

Thanks for reaching out and I wish you and your family the best in pursuing this issue.  And we will recover from this—but it will take time. 

Sincerely,

 

Jeff Bergosh

Escambia Board of County Commissioners,

District 1

221 Palafox Place Suite 400

Pensacola, FL 32502

850-595-4910 office

850-377-2209 Voicemail

District1@myescambia.com

www.jeffbergoshblog.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/CommissionerBergosh/

Twitter-- @jeffbergosh