Milton’s First Assembly of God gymnasium was the site of Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) public hearing regarding the proposed connector for State Road 87 at the intersection of SR 87 South and Bent Tree Road, westward to the intersection of U. S. Highway 90 and Glover Lane, and northwardly to the intersection of SR 87 North and Southridge Dr. Tanya Branton, FDOT public information specialist, said the completion of the third phase of the SR 87 Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study is near. However, Branton said, there is no funding yet for design. She said the project is on the top of the list.
The study, Branton said, began in 2009 and should finish next summer. FDOT began the study to develop a roadway alignment, allowing additional capacity and improved regional connectivity by providing a more direct route from SR 87 North to Interstate 10, while relieving the congestion on US Highway 90, according to the April, 2010 SR 87 Connector PD&E Study newsletter. In short, SR 87 North and SR 87 South needs a direct link.
There are two alternatives still in consideration by FDOT for the connector. Both begin on SR 87 South just south of U. S. Highway 90 and head north, beyond the Hackney office and warehouse. A bridge will carry drivers over the Blackwater River moving north. The bridge turns west over Pat Brown Road to its terminus. Moving west, over Munson Highway, another bridge will cross Clear Creek. From here, alternative 1 continues directly west and ends at SR 87 North. Alternative 2 turns north after Clear Creek then heads west to run into SR 87 North and across to blend into SR 89 just after the SR 87 North and SR 89 split.
During the meeting, City of Milton Mayor Wesley Meiss gave FDOT Project Manager Peggy Kelley a resolution from the city council in support of the direct route, alternative 1. Rick Casey, attending the hearing, said, “They need to hurry and get it built.”
During the hearing, Will Sloop, consultant project manager with Metric Engineering, gave the total estimated costs for both alternatives. The first was $121,839,000 and the second was $126,036,000. Both alternatives, he said, require only two resident relocations.
After the hearing, Branton said public comments and analysis will go to the Federal Highway Administration for their recommendation, but if funds for design remain unavailable, the study will end with a chosen alternative and come to a halt until money manifests.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: FDOT: No funds yet for 87 connector