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U.S. 98 in Okaloosa County to undergo weeklong lane closure for drainage work

A section of U.S. 98 in Okaloosa County will be reduced to one lane in each direction for a week starting Oct. 20. The closure allows crews to install a drainage pipe beneath the roadway as part of a resurfacing project.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has announced a planned lane closure on U.S. 98 in Okaloosa County to facilitate drainage pipe installation. The closure will begin at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20, and is expected to last for seven days.

  • The affected area stretches from Robys Drive to Woodland Park Circle in Mary Esther, where traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. The work will be carried out in two phases to minimize disruption.

In the first phase, the eastbound travel lane of U.S. 98 will shift north, creating a work zone on the south side of the road. This will allow crews to install the drainage pipe beneath the eastbound lanes.

The second phase will involve shifting both eastbound and westbound lanes to the south side of the roadway. This shift will provide a dedicated work zone on the north side of U.S. 98 to complete the drainage construction beneath the westbound lanes.

  • FDOT officials have stated that directional signage will be in place to guide drivers through the work zone. All lanes are scheduled to reopen to traffic by Sunday, Oct. 27.

The department reminds drivers to exercise caution, especially at night, when traveling through the work zone. Motorists should also be alert for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.

FDOT notes that all activities are weather dependent and may be subject to delay or rescheduling in the event of inclement weather.

This lane closure is part of a larger U.S. 98 resurfacing project that spans from west of Josie Road to Florida Place Southeast in Okaloosa County.

25 Responses

  1. I’d guess that very few traveling on Hwy 98 in Okaloosa County have any idea where Robys Drive or Woodlland Park Circle are.

    1. Woodland Park Circle is just west of Hurlburt Field. Arby’s is at the entrance of that neighborhood.

  2. Try your Google Maps. Mary Esther is out in the area near Santa Rosa Mall, and Hurlburt Field.
    98 runs along the shoreline of the Sound (the Intercoastal), right? Hope that helps.

    1. MILITARY BASE IN INVOLVED AS WELL AS ANYONE TRAVELING FROM THE WEST (PENSACOLA, GULF BREEZE, NAVARRE) TO THE BASE. HWY 98 IS THE ONLY THOROUGHFARE FROM GULF BREEZE TO FT WALTON BEACH

    2. As someone who spent two-and-a-half hours in a traffic jam today from that construction, I can sure tell you it is causing terrible hassles. It took me that long to drive west on Highway 98 from FWB to Florosa. I feel extremely sorry for the people who have to experience that two times a day during this week because of having to get to work, drive children to school, etc.

  3. Apparently a lot of people use because the travel time from Navarre to Ft Walton is over 3 hours

  4. Why can’t this be done at night without hindering a majority of people going to work and leaving work trying to get to Pensacola or Navarre from Destin and Fort Walton. This is absurd at the length of time this has taken to drive to and from work.

  5. This is product of poor planning and lack of caring. This can be done at midnight. I’ve been in traffic from FWB to Navarre for 4 hours and I haven’t moved an inch. It seems both lanes are closed

  6. I’d personally say fuck my job because I’m sure as shit not fucking driving through 2 hours worth of traffic just to get there so someone better pay up

  7. I spent 3.5 hours going to work, Navarre to Eglin. 2.5 hours going home. This sucks! Poor planning.

    1. It truly IS poor planning. It took me over 2.5 hours to drive from FWB to Florosa. (Traffic opened up after that. ) I was trying to get the Walmart pharmacy in Navarre to pick up a much-needed prescription, and although I had HOURS to get there, I couldn’t make it before the pharmacy closed. You truly have my sympathy having to deal with that every day for work!

    2. It took me over three and a half hours yesterday, so I left at five today and was on base by five thirty. No lane closures at all this morning.

      1. Yep. I left home in Navarre at 0600 and arrived at work on Hurby at 0630 with NO sign of construction on 98 going on. Are they REALLY just working during the day? That is a ridiculous plan if so.

  8. For all those effected, call DOT and register your complaint. They are not reading the comments in this article.

  9. And this morning there is nothing. Is there an update to the article with what the new plan is?

  10. No advance warning! 2 1/2 hours from Publix in Navarre to Jimmy Dolittle in FWB missing a
    Dr’s appt. I have been waiting for since July.
    People could not reach appts, workers could not get to work, parents could not pick up /drop of children. Hurlbert AFB was a catastrophe EXTREMELY POOR PLANNING BY DOT!!!!!

  11. 2 1/2 Hours from Publix in Navarre to Jimmy DoLittle in FWB. People missing appts, late for work. Hurlbert affected. EXTREMELY POOR
    PLANNING BY DOT!!!

  12. People are acting like 98 west of Hurlburt isn’t a crap shoot everyday. At least this was a planned project instead of wrecks stopping traffic completely for hours waiting for it to be cleared. Maybe days like these are needed to expedite creating the alternate road going to Hurlburt.

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Community Comments

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“So an unknown third party, will have access to very clear images of all our kids?”
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“Automated speeding cameras to issue tickets should be illegal. The only people who benefit are the people collecting the money. The citizens of Fort Walton Beach need to vote those...”
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“Traffic enforcement in FWB is nonexistent and needs to become a priority. For example, almost every day I turn off highway 98 into the Veteran’s Park parking lot. My wife...”
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“Elevating US98, like they did with US19 (N/S) is a much better idea than DESTROYING our historic downtown.”
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