On Wednesday morning, eastbound commuters on Okaloosa Island were met with traffic delays due to a new beveled plate on the Marler (Destin) Bridge. Drivers took to social media to report being stuck in a slow crawl of 15mph or less.
- Rehabilitation work on the bridge began earlier this year that includes intermittent eastbound single-lane closures between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.
According to FDOT, the traffic associated with the eastbound lanes of the Destin Bridge was due to a car that had pulled to the shoulder of the bridge and was unrelated to the maintenance work being conducted. Law enforcement was on scene to provide assistance.
Officials say the ‘plate’ is there to protect a section of a joint that was repaired. This is actually one of two joints that extends across all four lanes. Workers can only repair one lane at a time so the plate will be in eight different locations over the coming weeks.
As of Wednesday morning, a new “BUMP” sign has been posted on the bridge approach to advise drivers of the abrupt (1.5”) grade change. Officials say that while the plate is beveled, it might catch drivers by surprise.
The plate is currently covering the first of eight repairs. The entire project is scheduled for completion this fall.
5 Responses
Just SLOW DOWN PEOPLE! You’ll get there.
Don’t have any choice.
That’s just life in general advice you don’t have anywhere you need to be that badly that you need to be all bent out of shape over, so just sit back and enjoy the ride!
I noticed it going home yesterday and traffic really had slowed down quite a bit from normal. Hopefully, traffic will keep slowing down! I love to see the ospreys perched on the edge of the bridge calmly watching all the cars pass!
people need slow down on there own we don’t don’t all need to be punished with the traffic this bump causing just because some people don’t know how to drive appropriately.