Construction crews are continuing to work on the first new pier for the Brooks Bridge Replacement Project, a major infrastructure initiative in Fort Walton Beach, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced Wednesday.

• The project, valued at $171 million, aims to replace the existing four-lane bridge, which has been in service since 1966, with two new parallel bridges that will expand capacity to six travel lanes.

A recent aerial photograph taken above the Santa Rosa Sound, looking east toward Okaloosa Island, reveals several key components of the pier taking shape. The image shows a reinforced concrete slab, referred to as the pier “footing,” constructed at the waterline atop a group of foundation piles. This structure serves as the bridge’s foundation.

The photograph also captures two vertical pier columns rising from the foundation. These columns will support the bridge spans and transfer loads from the pier “cap” to the foundation below.

• In addition to the concrete elements, the image shows a steel form that crews have erected on top of the new vertical columns. This form will be used to construct the concrete pier “cap,” a crucial component of the bridge’s support structure.

The Brooks Bridge Replacement Project is scheduled for completion in summer 2027. The project represents a significant upgrade to the area’s transportation infrastructure, doubling the number of travel lanes from the current four to six upon completion.

As construction progresses, local residents and travelers can expect to see more visible changes to the bridge structure.