Community Affairs
Transportation
The Chamber’s Transportation Committee is involved in a range of surface transportation issues as well as the continued expansion and development of air service to Pensacola Regional Airport. This committee is open to all Chamber members with the approval of the Chair. This committee meets quarterly.
Major Initiatives:
The committee is charged with monitoring, reviewing and making recommendations regarding transportation issues affecting the community. The Transportation Committee prioritized three projects of interest for the year, one being the widening of Perdido Key Drive; another the proposed Beltway between Escambia and Santa Rosa counties; and improvements to the north/south mobility of Escambia County, which included supporting the widening of Alabama 113 (to I-65).
Additional county projects were awarded earlier this year for study to enhance future mobility: click here for updates from Escambia County
- Blue Angel Parkway—The consultant is to study State Road (SR) 173 also known as Blue Angel Parkway, from State Road 292 (Sorrento Road) to U.S. Highway 98 (Lillian Highway). The project expansion from a two-lane roadway to a four-lane, divided roadway.
- Sorrento Road—The consultant is to study State Road (SR) 292 also known as Sorrento Road, from the south end of the Theo Baars Bridge to SR 173 (Blue Angel Parkway). Six miles in length, this will study the expansion of the existing two-lane roadway to a four-lane, divided roadway and the addition of a two-lane bridge to provide a four-lane capacity for the Theo Baars Bridge.
- Perdido Key Drive—The consultant is to study Perdido Key Drive from the Alabama State Line to the south end of the Theo Baars Bridge. Seven miles in length, the project will study the expansion of the existing two-lane roadway to a four-lane, divided roadway. This project is on hold due to issues with the Perdido Key Beach Mouse.
- Pinestead Longleaf—The consultant is to study the proposed corridor known as Pinestead-Longleaf Corridor from Pine Forest Road to U.S. Highway 29. The project will study the proposed corridor at the existing west end of Longleaf Drive at Pine Forest, extending northeasterly to connect Pinestead Road.