Inlet Beach underpass at 30A will be open by Labor Day, FDOT says

SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. ( WMBB ) — A new pedestrian underpass at Highway 98 and 30A in Walton County is still under construction. It’s more than two years behind schedule.

“It’s taken us a little longer than expected.”

The Florida Department of Transportation(FDOT) estimated the $5.6 million underpass at Inlet Beach to be done in Spring of 2022.

“What we want is for this underpass to be done the best way it can. We want to make sure it’s going to withstand the elements of where we are. That’s a big deal. We want to make sure that it’s going to be used and safe for the public for years and years to come,” said Kohen Johns Brannon, FDOT public information specialist.

More than two years later, FDOT said they are putting in the finishing touches.

“It is structurally finished. Right now we’re still working on lighting and safety handrails,” Johns Brannon said.

The intersection of HWY 98 and East 30A is busy, making this underpass a major safety improvement for pedestrians when it opens.

“People don’t always use crosswalks like they’re supposed to but also cars don’t always use intersections like they’re used to,” Johns Brannon said. “So the safest thing we could have done was take people actually off the same roadway that vehicles are on and take them underneath and that’s what we’re doing here.”

When we last spoke to FDOT in March , they said this pedestrian underpass should be completed in the summer of 2024. Johns Brannon said they’re still on that same timeline, hoping to have this up and running by the end of the season.

“This will be open by Labor Day. So it will be open this summer, but it will be Labor Day weekend at the latest,” Johns Brannon said.

The underpass will also feature unique artwork, some of which FDOT said has not been approved for installation.

FDOT will host a ribbon cutting and opening ceremony for the underpass, to be announced at a later date.

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