County Requests Safety Evaluation of FDOT's Beulah Road/9-Mile Road Intersection: FDOT is Studying the Issue

There have been a number of wrecks at the intersection of the state's roads Beulah Road and 9-Mile Road.

The latest one resulted in a fatality.  Numerous Citizens have expressed concern.  And the county is listening.

Last week, we requested FDOT look into this situation for safety's sake via this email, below:

"Escambia County requests the Department conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the signalized intersection of Nine Mile Road (State Road 10 / U.S. 90-A) at Beulah Road (State Road 99).  The Design-Build improvements were complete in February 2022 and drivers routinely request changes to the geometry, pavement markings and traffic signal operations.  The evaluation may need multiple staff with multiple backgrounds; Design, Safety Office, and Traffic Operations. 

 One specific concern that routinely comes up is the obscured view of oncoming thru traffic for the driver turning left on the green permissive phase.  (It appears to be more obscure for the eastbound left turning vehicle.)  Has the Department reviewed the possibility of shifting the EB left turn lane to the north to provide additional sight distance?  If it is not feasible, please examine changing the traffic signal’s left turn treatment from protected/permissive mode to protected only mode.  There have been two major crashes with eastbound left turning drivers failing to yield the right of way and turning in front of a westbound driver in the past few months.  (November 16, 2022 and April 28, 2023).  The latest crash resulted in a fatality.

 FDOT Design Office is currently managing Project 433113-5-52-01, Beulah Road resurfacing from Mobile Highway (SR 10A/U.S. 90) to Issacs Lane.  There may already be an evaluation complete.  If so, can you forward the document?  There may be some short-term recommendations Escambia County maintenance staff can implement.  The Google Earth KMZ file representing 30% plans is attached.

 FDOT provided signalization upgrades during the Design-Build project that can provide valuable data for the evaluation.  The detection camera provides a variety of data including turning movement counts and 24-hour counts. I am also available to meet to go over some of the citizen suggestions, verify measurements in the field and obtain photos.    

 County Commissioner Bergosh has requested to stay informed on the progress of this request.  I am copying him on this email.  As a courtesy, I am also copying the District Traffic Operations Engineer.

 Appreciate your support."

Wednesday of last week, FDOT acknowledged the issue and confirmed they are having the matter looked into.

Good afternoon Jim,

 

"We have tasked Phillip Kurth, with FTE to study this location.

 Phillip

 Please see Jim’s email below regarding the Task Assignment for this location that I sent you earlier. Please work with Jim Hagon on this assignment.

 Respectfully,

 Tammy Melchi

Traffic Specialist IV

FDOT Traffic Operations Office"

more to come.

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.

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!