The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on June 16 to allocate $400,000 in surtax reserves toward a new traffic signal at the intersection of Poquito Road and Lewis Turner Boulevard.
- The county’s contribution will fund approximately half of the construction cost, with the Florida Department of Transportation funding the remainder and managing the project.
According to county staff, FDOT is currently drafting a Local Funding Agreement that is under review by the agency’s legal team. With the county contribution in place, FDOT could begin construction during the second half of 2026.
Public Works Director Scott Bitterman presented the item to commissioners. He said the intersection was identified on the 2019 original needs list for transportation safety, and that the county has received frequent requests for signalization due to delays experienced by motorists on Poquito Road.
“FDOT has many locations where traffic signals have been requested and a limited amount of safety money,” Bitterman said. “Typically, locations with higher crash rates, such as Galliver Cut Off on Highway 4, they tend to receive the FDOT priority.”
- Bitterman noted that the Galliver Cut Off signal is scheduled for installation later this year.
The Infrastructure Surtax Advisory Committee recommended approval of the allocation at its May 12 meeting. The board’s vote authorized the allocation from fiscal year 2026 surtax reserves and approved the associated budget transfer.
