The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners approved $2.1 million in additional funding Tuesday for a multi-use path project along College Boulevard and Forest Road, addressing increased construction costs for the transportation initiative.
- The 2.486-mile path will stretch from the intersection of Palm Boulevard and College Boulevard to the intersection of Forest Road and Rocky Bayou Drive, providing safe connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists in the Niceville area.
The project has a current construction cost estimate of $4.45 million with contingency, building upon the initial $3 million budget that included a $1.5 million Florida Department of Transportation grant matched by $1.5 million in county funds.
- The newly approved $2.1 million will cover this increase and provide $615,000 for construction engineering and inspection services.
The project design is complete, but construction requires final coordination with Eglin Air Force Base since College Boulevard runs through federal property under an easement agreement.
“We continue to work with Eglin to get the final little dots on the agreement for constructing out there,” said Public Works Director Jason Autrey during Tuesday’s meeting. “We just have to make sure that we comply with their rules.”
The Infrastructure Surtax Advisory Committee recommended the additional funding at their January 9 meeting. Any unused funds will return to Surtax Reserves.
The project originated in August 2022 when commissioners approved initial funding for design and traffic studies. The path aims to enhance safety at intersections around Northwest Florida State College while providing alternative transportation options for students and residents.
