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Airport Road in Destin gets some much needed safety improvements

On July 21st and July 22nd, safety improvements began to include the milling and resurfacing of the curved section of Airport Road, along with temporary striping and new asphalt.  High friction surface treatment will be installed late August and project completion is scheduled for mid-September, according to Catherine Card, Public Information Manager for Destin. “Please be patient as we provide […]

On July 21st and July 22nd, safety improvements began to include the milling and resurfacing of the curved section of Airport Road, along with temporary striping and new asphalt. 

High friction surface treatment will be installed late August and project completion is scheduled for mid-September, according to Catherine Card, Public Information Manager for Destin.

“Please be patient as we provide these additional measures to promote driver safety and use caution while driving through the work zone,” she continued.

Other improvements will include new signage, new pavement markings, and speed detection devices.

On July 20th, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputies were on location at Airport Road due to a traffic crash. A single vehicle struck a power pole near the curve that resulted in intermittent lane closures as Gulf Power worked to replace the pole.

Source: Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office

Safety on Airport Road was recently discussed by the City Council in regards to low speed vehicles on Airport (vehicles required to be able to go 35 miles an hour), along with the Multi-Modal Transportation District.

Councilman Dewey Destin brought up the idea of lowering the speed limit on Airport Road versus banning low speed vehicles as he feels that reckless driving is the bigger issue.

“I agree with the dangerous situation we have on Airport Road,” said Destin. “However, why don’t we do something really innovative and try to address excessive speed.”

Councilman Destin went on to explain how get got behind low speed vehicle on Airport Road, which by state law is required to be able to go 35 miles an hour, and had cars swerving around them “acting in a totally reckless behavior” because they were traveling at 35mph.

“What we need to do is lower the speed limit on Airport Road to 25mph, then people would do 35mph,” he said. “There have been three people killed on Airport Road within my memory and all were on bicycles. You’ve got every traffic problem on Airport Road that is out on Highway 98 right now. We need to lower the speed limit and slow the traffic down.”

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Community Comments

“Thanks Jared for a concise factual article. Too much false narratives floating around social media.”
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“Thee is no such a thing as affordable housing for over half the people that live in this area. People can’t afford 300, 400 or 500k for a house. Build...”
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“That portion has been closed because of wild hogs destroying it, I believe”
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“Got make up for the 10 mill purchase of the SS United States and getting fined 1k a day while it still sits in port”
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“Follow the $. It's highly probable the developers have a military connection. And "affordable housing" is a sad case of smoke and mirrors.”
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“Why not give the actual location of the new school, but from the little you gave on that point, I'm "assuming" that it will, like just about nearly every school...”
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“Is HCA Twin Cities able to provide cardiac care?”
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“It is amazing on one hand Walton county will purchase 2,000 acres for a state park and claim it is all about the enviroment amd protecting the Florida Black Bear...”
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“Here goes all our natural Woods & Wild Life . Next thing you know they'll be building Businesses. And Gas Stations . And Big Houses .”
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“It would be nice to know where it will be located. What about designs and will it have primitive camping or a combination of RV sites. What, no artist rendition?...”
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