“I think 95 percent of this is perfect,” Panama City Commissioner Mike Nichols said. “I’m excited they got all the funding for the project.”
The $73 million flyover project will elevate U.S. 98 up 30 feet allowing a bypass for
Construction is scheduled to begin in August of 2015 and the plan calls for a four-year project. Bids for the project will go out in May. The first phase of the plan is to create an alternative road that would function just like U.S. 98 does now, Satter said.
“During construction, it’s going to be painful,” Port Panama City Deputy Director Charles Lewis said.
There was one major concern for residents living south of U.S. 98: drivers only have one exit and entrance onto the six-lane road at
“You can’t turn into this now,” 37-year resident Buddy Hale said. “We do not have access out of our neighborhood.”
Fellow long-time resident Jimmy Branch suggested widening the east-bound exit lane into a two-lane road to allow access around U.S. 98. Satter said that suggestion would be considered along with a stop light.
“That is what this meeting is for,” Satter said of the questions.
Satter said property acquisition for the project is complete except for some right of way owned by Gulf Coast State College. Land acquisition required some businesses to either close or relocate, including the Scottish Inn on
Lewis is buoyed that the project will ease traffic in and out of the port. Train tracks blocking traffic now will go under 98.
“DOT has worked with us from the get-go,” Lewis said.
Particular changes the port suggested during earlier planning included access for