331 jammed [construction update: lane closures]

Snerd · 02-08-2010, 05:08 PM

Anyone know what's going on?

kks0809 · 02-08-2010, 05:13 PM

Road crew had traffic down to one lane on NORTH side of bridge this morning....that may be problem but can't say for sure....traffic was getting backed up then

closer2fine · 02-08-2010, 05:40 PM

Backed up on 98 (westbound). Nothing has moved on 331 in over 15 minutes.

scooterbug44 · 02-08-2010, 05:43 PM

They had the light-up road sign saying that there would be lane closures starting this week - I am assuming that is what this is since noone has mentioned sirens or an accident.

Smiling JOe · 02-08-2010, 05:44 PM

Most likely it is the construction. It was backed up this morning, and they have big signs noting the work being done, which were posted more than a week ago. Expect alternating one way traffic for the next week or so.

Snerd · 02-08-2010, 06:34 PM

Sounds like it was just the construction but it was so bad, only about 1-2 cars were able to turn left when the light was green. I was coming from the West, and ended up driving all the way to hwy 79 to get to Black Creek.

My husband is trying to come North now and it is still not moving (at 6:30). He just turned his car off

If anyone took this route home, how long did it take? Wondering if we should start taking 79 until the constuction is through....

John R · 02-08-2010, 06:45 PM

the paint truck was in the Eastbound turn lanes around noon. Possibly finishing up the actual lanes before opening?

North Lake · 02-08-2010, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John R

the paint truck was in the Eastbound turn lanes around noon. Possibly finishing up the actual lanes before opening?

They're laying the final friction coat of asphalt on the project. Working at night so's not to tie up traffic too much. I waited on top of the bridge about 15 minutes coming home from DFS from a meeting at 7:30 this evening. They had about 10 dumps filled with asphalt leading the spreader, with the rollers following closely behind. They'll be done soon at the rate they seemed to be working. After the asphalt is laid, they'll have to come back in again to restripe; then clean up the edges, and we have a new 4-lane segment of U.S. 331.

SWGB · 02-08-2010, 10:22 PM

Another reason I'm glad I don't live in Bay County anymore. They would have scheduled this for Memorial Day Weekend.

Beach Runner · 02-09-2010, 12:38 AM

So if we're coming down on Friday, should we use 79?

John R · 02-09-2010, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beach Runner

So if we're coming down on Friday, should we use 79?

prudent idea.

Mermaid · 02-09-2010, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beach Runner

So if we're coming down on Friday, should we use 79?

Thanks for asking the question I was going to ask. It looks like if we want to see SoWal this weekend, we'd better find another way. Fifteen minutes waiting on top of all those hours already in the car would be the last straw!

kurt · 02-09-2010, 08:17 AM

U.S. 331 Improvement Project - Walton County, FL

Quote:

February 1 - February 22
Location:

U.S. 331 (SR 83), between the U.S. 98 (SR 30) intersection and the southern end of the Clyde B. Wells Bridge across Choctawhatchee Bay.

Description:

North and southbound traffic is shifted to the outside travel lanes while paving crews apply the final layer of asphalt to the inside lanes, medians and crossovers. Once complete, traffic will be shifted to the inside travel lanes to allow for paving of the outside lanes.
Drivers may experience occasional lane closures and traffic shifts during the paving work.

Smiling JOe · 02-09-2010, 09:49 AM

They are painting stripes almost immediately after laying the final coat of asphalt. They are moving rapidly. Also doing road work on the north side of the Bay, near the bridge. They shifted the lanes over to one side and are grinding asphalt from what used to be the bike lane.

DuneLaker · 02-09-2010, 09:56 AM

Guess I better leave early to make my Mom's 75th birthday party on time.

Red Dawg · 02-09-2010, 10:41 AM

Isn't 79 under constrution also?

Kayak · 02-09-2010, 11:03 AM

I was stuck on the bridge last night for 45 minutes heading South. Due to congestion on 98 they seemed to be trying to clear that part up but in the process jammed 331 even more. I spoke with CW Roberts this morning and they claim that they do not expect any additional significant delays.

SWGB · 02-09-2010, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Dawg

Isn't 79 under constrution also?

Yes, but it's more preliminary work with no lane closures. That and the fact that it's 4 lanes of 65mph from 20 south makes it a little of a time saver.

Snerd · 02-09-2010, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWGB

Yes, but it's more preliminary work with no lane closures. That and the fact that it's 4 lanes of 65mph from 20 south makes it a little of a time saver.

Driving North on 79 I ran into a section that had one of the lanes blocked, but the fast lane was open!

I didn't see any construction vehicles, it was just a big open highway with little traffic. For anyone that goes this way...is the new bridge the smoothest ever or am I just accustomed to the Clyde B. Wells?

SWGB · 02-09-2010, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snerd

Driving North on 79 I ran into a section that had one of the lanes blocked, but the fast lane was open!

I didn't see any construction vehicles, it was just a big open highway with little traffic. For anyone that goes this way...is the new bridge the smoothest ever or am I just accustomed to the Clyde B. Wells?

No, that road is a dream drive. I had trouble staying awake driving down it one time.

Smiling JOe · 02-10-2010, 08:16 PM

Update: looks like north bound lane is getting the final touches tonight. All asphalt appears to be down, and stripes and reflectors are in place. Southbound looks completed. Other than a small section northbound, getting some final touches, traffic should be open and flowing. Look out for the north bound's lack of merge notification where the two lanes narrow to one!

Just north of the bridge, they are still doing some work on the shoulder of the southbound lane, but doesn't look like they are closing the flow of traffic. For this weekend, you should be good to go, using 331 to get to SoWal.

Beach Runner · 02-10-2010, 10:28 PM

If we went from Columbus to Eufaula to Dothan via 431 and then to PCB via 79, can any of you approximate how much of that entire route is four-lane?

Smiling JOe · 02-11-2010, 08:48 AM

most of that route is four lane, with the exception of the Historic Distric of Eufaula, which is only about 1 mile on 431.

Smiling JOe · 02-11-2010, 03:52 PM

slight change to my update. They are still working on the road, but appear that they will have it finished or close to it by tomorrow. Traffic moving without closures.