I-110 Ramp at Gregory Removal Pricetag @ $3+ Million: Is the Juice worth the Squeeze?

Should the offramp from I-110 south into Pensacola, which circles the Civic Center, be removed at a cost of over $3+Million Dollars to taxpayers?  Many find the offramp useful for easy access to the Bay Center when driving southbound into the city--while others believe that with the Grand Hotel closed and other ways (via the 9th ave. light from the existing eastbound offramp) to access the area--that the westbound offramp is redundant and unnecessary....

The looping exit/offramp which encircles the Pensacola Civic Center downtown and curves back to Gregory Street westbound (running just south of the Grand Hotel and north of the Civic Center) could possibly be removed.

Last March I signed and sent a letter, as chairman, on behalf of the BCC to FDOT.  The request was, specifically approved as a request  for FDOT to close this exit.

We have now received guidance back from FDOT in answer to this query from 9 months ago, and the closure request falls back on us to fund if we wish to proceed, apparently.

From the FDOT response:

"Chairman Bergosh, as a follow up to the attached letter, please see the below next steps needed to move forward with the potential closure/removal of I-110 ramp at Gregory Street.  I have also communicated the below next steps with Commissioner Bender as well.   

 During discussions at the November 1^st, 2022, District Interchange Review Committee (DIRC) Meeting, FHWA advised that there were no objections, at this time, to the closure and removal of the I-110 ramp at Gregory Street. However, FHWA advised that this would require more review and evaluation to fully understand the request and possibility of closure and removal.

The next steps for this would be as follows:

1. Attendance by the (requestor) - City or County representatives at the next DIRC meeting (March 9, 2023) to discuss the Methodology Letter of Understanding (MLOU). 
2. Development of the MLOU by (requestor) estimate: ($5,000-$8,000)
3. Review and approval of the MLOU by Central Office and FHWA
4. Development by the (requestor) of Interchange Access Request (IAR), documentation estimate: ($45,000-$75,000)
5. Review and approval of IAR documentation by Central Office and FHWA
6. Finalization of the IAR

Once approved the project can advance to design/construction phases to be funded by (requestor) - City or County.  

Construction estimates for removal of I-110 Ramp $3M+.  This estimate does not include Design.

 If you have any questions, please feel free to call me.

 

Sincerely,

 Mark Brock

Transportation Planning Manager

Florida Department of Transportation - District Three

1074 Highway 90

Chipley, FL 32428"