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Major progress on Southwest Crestview Bypass as bridge construction advances

The Southwest Crestview Bypass project in Okaloosa County shows significant headway with bridge construction over railroad tracks, featuring 370 piles across 14 bents as crews work toward completion.

Jared Williams

Construction on the Southwest Crestview Bypass has reached a significant milestone with the installation of bridge infrastructure spanning railroad tracks, according to Okaloosa County Public Works Director Jason Autrey.

The bridge construction features 370 piles across 14 bents, which form the foundation for columns and caps supporting the deck. Bridge decking is already in place on portions of the structure, awaiting concrete pouring and surface treatment.

“The bridge is the long-lead work item. We still have a little under a year to go on this,” Autrey said during a project update video from the county.

The project encompasses multiple components, including asphalt installation on the north-south portion and western side of Fallen Heroes Way near Antioch Road. Additional road work is progressing on the eastern side near Highway 85, with stormwater features being installed.

All four lanes of PJ Adams Parkway are now open to traffic, improving flow and safety. The Florida Department of Transportation continues work on the interchange at I-10 and PJ Adams.

Massive bridge construction cuts through Okaloosa County as part of the Southwest Crestview Bypass project. The structure requires 370 support piles and will help connect the newly paved north-south section when completed within the year. (Source: Okaloosa County)

A new K-8 school is under construction along the route, with the county working alongside the school board to establish access to the parcel. The new 1,200-student facility, set to open in August 2026, will be constructed on 49 acres of an 80-acre parcel west of the new Crestview bypass. It marks the district’s first new school construction since 2007-2008.

Pineview School, as it was recently named, is a two-story school that will feature classroom wings, a gymnasium, band and chorus rooms, a media center, and a cafeteria designed as an Enhanced Hurricane Protection Area. The school aims to address overcrowding in the area’s elementary and middle schools.

The 13.5-mile project includes the bypass, east-west connector, and PJ Adams Parkway improvements. Funding on the project comes from multiple sources, including voter-approved surtax revenue, with support from FDOT and the City of Crestview.

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