![Looking north on Avalon Boulevard at the Interstate 10 overpass, crews are placing base materials in preparation for an upcoming traffic shift. [FDOT Facebook | Special to the Press Gazette]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-639d3e0b-9d35-5fa8-e053-0100007f67b5-ecc1a6d1.jpeg)
THE QUESTION
“I would like to recommend that you publish a story on the I-10 project to add lanes from the Pensacola Bay Bridge to the Avalon Exit, No 22. This project seems to be progressing very slowly.
For those of us that are forced to drive through this construction zone daily it presents a safety hazard, not to mention the stress and discomfort of the temporary lanes the contractor has in place. I have seen no noticeable progress in a long time and they are never more than a few workers present at in point in time.
I would be very interested in the contract details, specifically regarding the completion date versus [Florida Department of Transportation's] estimate on a completion date. Also, does the contract have a penalty clause for delays or incentives for an early completion?” —John Wiley, Milton
THE ANSWER
The project — which began June 5, 2015 — involves widening Interstate 10 from four to six travel lanes from the Escambia Bay bridge to east of Avalon Boulevard, according to Florida Department of Transportation spokesperson Tanya Branton. Crews will reconstruct the Avalon Boulevard overpass and widen the Interstate 10 on and off ramps.
“The project is a total of 4.1 miles in length, [and] was contracted with Prince Contracting, LLC for the amount of $38.573 million,” Branton said.
According to Branton, in recent months the work has been focused on widening the interstate and overpass to six travel lanes near Avalon Boulevard. This phase includes soil stabilization and embankment work for the new higher interstate, installation of mechanically stabilized earth walls adjacent to the overpass, setting beams for the new overpass, and stormwater pond excavation.
“Crews have been constructing the new deck for the Avalon Boulevard overpass, working on the pond, and widening the [Interstate] 10 ramps near Avalon Boulevard,” Branton said.
The estimated completion date is spring 2018. This date has changed in the past due to severe weather and granted holidays. There are no incentives in the contract between FDOT and Prince Contracting for the contractor to finish early.
“Without any future time added to the contract, standard liquidated damages will be applied around April 1, [2018] and continue until the project is complete,” Branton said.
FDOT has a website and a Facebook page explaining the project and detailing updates on progress. Residents can visit it at nwflroads.com/projects/413062-3 and www.facebook.com/WidenI10NWFL/
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU
The completion date for the Interstate 10 widening project is approaching. Work on the Avalon Boulevard exit is projected to be finished in the next few months; therefore, temporary lanes and other aspects of construction should be removed at that time.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Avalon construction projected to finish in spring