Construction on the Brooks Bridge Replacement Project is advancing, with a new “North Connection” taking shape to link U.S. 98 and Santa Rosa Boulevard on Okaloosa Island.
- The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) released a recent aerial photo showcasing the progress of the North Connection, which is being built between the Convention Center and Santa Rosa Boulevard.
An artist’s rendering provided by FDOT illustrates several key features of the completed project:
- Santa Rosa Boulevard will be reconstructed to pass beneath the new Brooks Bridge structure.
- A dedicated access ramp will connect the North Connection to the U.S. 98 westbound travel lane across Brooks Bridge.
- A dedicated turn lane from U.S. 98 westbound onto the new Northbound Connection will allow drivers to access Santa Rosa Boulevard without making a left turn across U.S. 98 traffic.
The $171 million project aims to replace the current four-lane bridge, which opened in 1966, with two new parallel bridges. This expansion will increase capacity to six travel lanes, addressing growing traffic concerns in the area.
FDOT estimates the Brooks Bridge replacement project will be completed by summer 2027.
2 Responses
I don’t see any access to East bound traffic. How will this happen?
I was thinking the same thing.