Okaloosa County officials are urging residents and visitors to stay off the under-construction Bridge-to-Bridge path on Okaloosa Island following reports of vehicles parking and driving on the new photoluminescent surface.
- The approximately 4-mile pedestrian and cycling path, which connects Brooks Bridge in Fort Walton Beach to Marler Bridge in Destin, is nearing completion of its paving phase but still requires significant work to establish safe parking areas at federally owned beach access points.
County officials emphasized that while beach access parking areas remain open for public use, vehicles should not park or drive on the path itself. Despite its appealing appearance, the $3.7 million infrastructure project remains an active construction zone.
The path, which will feature a distinctive glow-in-the-dark surface at night, is scheduled for completion in spring or early summer 2025.
The project, approved by the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners in May 2024, was initiated to address safety concerns along the busy Highway 98 corridor. “We’ve had so many people die on Highway 98 that have tried to bike it and walk it,” Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel noted during the project’s approval.
While construction continues, officials confirmed that no traffic disruptions or lane closures are expected on Highway 98, though motorists are advised to exercise caution in the area.
The path, constructed on federal land controlled by Eglin Air Force Base, will serve as part of the Florida Trails system once completed.
8 Responses
How about ticking for illegal parking and driving on a pathway…easy fixes for over privileged folks.
You gotta put up signs to let these tourist (and apparently the locals who already know…)
know that this is not an extra lane for your car. It needs to be clearly marked as a pedestrian bike path. Maybe even put up a temporary chain-link fence in the areas where the cars are getting on and off the path. I don’t know the solution.
What they need to do is put concrete pillars around the trail so people don’t do this. People think theyre entitled to ride on the path just because they’re lazy. This track was made in the first place because people don’t know how to drive properly and we’re hitting pedestrians. STAY OFF THE DAMN PATH. Its not hard.
How bout get rid of it totally as it was a stupid idea to start off with. They should have put it on the north side of road since it is all clear except for leeside park. How much is it going to cost to maintain it and repair it when low pressure systems come through and hurricanes come in and destroy it. It would have been way more logical to put on other side. But that’s just coming from a native, local, born in FWB in ’75…. It will be funny to see bikers getting off their bikes to walk through 2 feet of beach sand when the wind blows even 25/30 mph and covers parts! Can’t wait!
Word is born kid.
Easy fix, towing and tickets.
Another amusing example of how incompetent our local county commissioners are. Blame it on “residents” as usual instead of serving them.
I think they need to put up some kind of signs also for out tourist.