FDOT announces temporary change on U.S. Highway 98, to impact Fort Walton Beach residents and commuters

Fort Walton Beach, Florida – People who live in Fort Walton Beach or drive to work on U.S. Highway 98 are getting ready for a big change because the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is still working on the ambitious $171 million Brooks Bridge replacement project. In order to keep traffic moving as smoothly as possible, the FDOT has announced plans for a temporary lane shift along the busy highway to make room for ongoing construction.

Read also: Allegiant Air is adding three new destinations out of the Destin – Fort Walton Beach airport

As the project goes on, drivers on U.S. Highway 98 heading east will see that new temporary lanes have been set up. This adjustment is part of a strategic plan to shift all lanes of the highway to the south. Later this month, the change is set to take place, which will be an important step in the replacement project that started last year.

The lane change is an important part of making room for the building of a new westbound bridge. The old bridge, which opened in 1966, will be replaced by this new one. Even though there is a lot of construction going on, FDOT has promised that all four lanes of U.S. Highway 98 will stay open during this part of the project. This dedication to keeping traffic moving is very important for keeping the thousands of drivers who use this route every day as comfortable as possible.

Read also: Two women arrested in Pensacola for drug trafficking

The new Brooks Bridge, which should be finished in the summer of 2027, will be a big step up from the old one. The replacement project will increase the bridge’s capacity from four lanes to six, making it much safer and easier for the growing number of cars that use this important link between Fort Walton Beach and the nearby areas to get there.

The $171 million replacement project not only underscores the importance of Brooks Bridge to the local infrastructure but also reflects the FDOT’s commitment to ensuring the safety and efficiency of Florida’s transportation network. The FDOT wants drivers to know about any changes to the traffic and to be careful when going through construction zones as the work goes on.

Read also: Major improvements underway at Lincoln Park Boat Ramp in Valparaiso

The short-term change of lanes is just one of many steps that will be taken to make Brooks Bridge more modern.