The project includes construction of two new, parallel bridges that will increase capacity to six travel lanes – three eastbound and three westbound – from the current four-lane bridge that opened in 1966. The new bridge is being built next to the existing one that is part of U.S. Highway 98 and stretches over the Santa Rosa Sound between downtown Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, the new bridge will increase the Sound’s utility as a commercial trade link along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
“The new bridge will be 15 feet taller to meet U.S. Coast Guard navigational clearance regulations,” FDOT officials said in a recent news release. “This project will increase the bridge’s navigational channel vertical clearance from 50 to 65 feet. The horizontal clearance of the channel will increase from 140 to 150 feet.”
The overall bridge replacement project also includes the reconstruction of Santa Rosa Boulevard, which will pass beneath the new bridge on Okaloosa Island.
To maintain access and improve traffic flow between U.S. 98 and Santa Rosa Boulevard in the new configuration, crews are constructing two new roads:
- A new four-lane road named “East Connection” will provide access between Santa Rosa Boulevard and U.S. 98 eastbound. Also, U.S. 98 westbound drivers will be able to make a left turn on East Connection to access Santa Rosa Boulevard on the south side of U.S. 98.
- A new two-lane road named “North Connection” will have a dedicated ramp to access the U.S. 98 westbound outside travel lane to access Brooks Bridge. A dedicated right-turn lane from U.S. 98 westbound onto the new Northbound Connection will allow drivers to access Santa Rosa Boulevard north of U.S. 98.
The future connecting roads. (Rendering courtesy of the FDOT)
