NEWS RELEASE — Increased traffic and congestion have led to the widening of Nine Mile Road.

It has taken almost 10 years, but two projects costing nearly $42 million will create four lanes from Beulah Road to U.S. 29, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

The widening of nearly 10 miles of Nine Mile Road will include the previously unfunded section of roadway between Pine Forest Road and U.S. 29. Construction could start as early as 2015.

When completed, the expanded roadway will support the growth of Navy Federal Credit Union, proposed development at the site known as “Outlying Landing Field 8”, and ease access for Nature Trail subdivision and other residential neighborhoods.

Traffic congestion due to continued growth and development led to the reclassification of Nine Mile Road from “rural” to “suburban” and made it necessary to redesign a project originally planned for construction nearly a decade ago.

The inclusion of the new phase for the widening project is the result of a partnership between Escambia County and the state transportation department. The county used $1.2 million of local option sales tax funds for project development, environmental studies and a design update.

Over the next year, the FDOT plans to spend $1.2 million to acquire rights of way to widen the road along the 4.3-mile section and to complete environment work.

Last summer, the FDOT met with the public to discuss the road widening from two to four lanes along the section of road between U.S. 90/Mobile Highway and Pine Forest Road,  a length of almost 6 miles. It included access management, changes of design and construction of medians and median opening and stormwater treatment ponds.

The continuation of the project to U.S 29 will ease congestion and improve traffic flow along the crowded commercial corridor.

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