Brooks Street reopens to two-way traffic beneath Fort Walton Beach bridge project
Fort Walton Beach, Florida – Brooks Street is once again open to two-way traffic beneath one of Fort Walton Beach’s most important construction zones, marking a small but useful change for drivers moving through the Brooks Bridge area.
The Florida Department of Transportation announced Friday that the road has reopened in both directions from Perry Avenue east to Florida Blanca Place. That stretch passes below the existing Brooks Bridge and through the area where crews are working on the major bridge replacement project.
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For drivers, the reopening brings a more familiar traffic pattern back to Brooks Street while construction continues overhead and nearby. The change does not mean the work is finished, but it does restore two-way access along a section affected by the ongoing project.
The Brooks Bridge replacement is one of the largest transportation efforts in the area, with a total cost of $171 million. The project calls for building two new parallel bridges to replace the current four-lane structure, which opened in 1966. Once completed, the new crossing will expand capacity to six travel lanes.
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Construction activity will continue, and FDOT is reminding motorists to stay alert. Nighttime lane closures may still take place from Sunday through Thursday between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. as crews carry out construction work. Drivers traveling through the area during those hours should be prepared for possible delays, changing traffic patterns and workers near the roadway.
The larger Brooks Bridge replacement project is scheduled to be completed in early 2029. Until then, traffic shifts and temporary closures are expected to remain part of the process as crews move the work forward.
FDOT said more information about the project is available through the Florida DOT Northwest Florida Roads webpage.
