GULF BREEZE — Gulf Islands National Seashore will reopen Fort Pickens Road at 9 a.m. Dec. 2.
The area, facilities, campground and road were closed Oct. 6 ahead of Hurricane Nate making landfall on the Gulf Coast. The hurricane caused significant damage to park roads in Florida and dock damage in Mississippi.
Immediately after the storm left the area, park crews evaluated park roads, finding more than 3 feet of sand on the roadway and several portions undermined by gulf overwashes.
Following a formal engineer evaluation, the Federal Highways Administration immediately began the process to repair damaged roadways. Contractors arrived at the seashore Nov. 6, removing damaged asphalt, repairing sand confinement systems, and finally repaving Highway 399 in the Santa Rosa Area and Fort Pickens Road in the Fort Pickens Area.
The area will resume normal operations from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. However, some beach parking lots will temporarily remain closed due to sand. Ranger programs will resume immediately for the Fort Pickens Area, which features the historic fort, water recreation, fishing and camping opportunities.
The Fort Pickens Campground will welcome overnight guests in Loops A, C and E on a first-come, first served basis through the weekend. Campground reservations will be honored and accepted for the same loops starting Dec. 4. Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov.
Loops B and D are being converted to tent-only sites and will reopen in mid-December.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Fort Pickens to reopen following Hurricane Nate