West Bay Parkway - [Update: Planning Phase Underway]

Thanks for posting. This has been in the works for some time. The overall plan for Nortwest Florida's future transportation is extensive. This expressway will add to the momentum generated by the airport and Soutwest Airlines entry to the market.

There are four alternative corridors, of which Alternative Corridors 2, 3, and 4 have multiple

alignment variations depending on their termini at SR 79. A description of the alternative
corridors follows. Figure 4-2 shows the alternative corridors on aerial photography.
Alternative Corridor 1: This Alternative considers the impacts of improvements along the
existing roadways and utilizes a 500-foot corridor.

Alternative Corridor 2: Begins at the intersection of US 98 near Breakers Street and utilizes a
narrower corridor width as it travels eastward through the area south of the proposed Watersound
development and north of the Wild Heron development. From this point there are four
variations of Alternative Corridor 2.

• The first (Alt 2) continues in an easterly direction utilizing a 1,000-foot wide corridor and
travels through the lighter colored swath discussed in Group 2 of the Final Grid Map
overlay until it reaches SR 79 approximately 1.0 mile north of the power line right-ofway.
• The second (Alt 2A) travels northeast across the United States Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE)/St. Joe RGP Conservation Units until it reaches Side Camp Road. From here,
the corridor continues along Side Camp Road until it reaches SR 79.
• The third (Alt 2B) travels to the northeast along the same path as Alt 2A but continues in
this direction, bridging over the ICWW, and then turns to the southeast until it intersects
with SR 79 approximately 0.5 mile south of Marilyn Road.
• The fourth (Alt 2C) follows along the same path as Alt 2B but after bridging over the
ICWW it turns to the east (rather than the southeast) and travels in this direction until it
intersects with SR 79 at Steel Field Road.

Alternative Corridor 3: Begins approximately 1.5 miles northwest of Breakers Street and
utilizes a 1000-foot corridor width throughout. The corridor travels through one of the lighter
northeast oriented swaths identified in Group 2 of the Final Grid Map, which coincides with a
gap that exists between the USACE/St. Joe RGP Conservation Units coverage. The corridor
bridges over the ICWW and continues northeast until it meets an existing logging road that it
follows to the southeast for approximately 3.0 miles. From here there are two variations of
Alternative Corridor 3.

• The first (Alt 3) continues southeast until it intersects with SR 79 approximately 0.5 mile
south of Marilyn Road.
• The second (Alt 3A) turns to the east and travels in this direction until it intersects with
SR 79 at Steel Field Road
27 West Bay Parkway (Segment 1)
Land Suitability Mapping Analysis
June 2009

Alternative Corridor 4: Begins approximately 4.0 miles northwest of Breakers Street and
utilizes a 1000-foot corridor width throughout. Alternative Corridor 4 most fully utilizes the
lighter Group 1 area from the Final Grid Map overlay. The corridor begins northwest of the last
USACE/St. Joe RGP Conservation Unit and travels northeast to bridge over the ICWW. It
continues to the northeast crossing through the Devils Swamp Mitigation area at its narrowest
point and then turns to the southeast, avoiding the rest of Devil’s Swamp. The corridor then
continues to the southeast until it meets up with the same logging road utilized by Alternative
Corridor 3. There are two variations of Alternative Corridor 4 which are the same variations as
Alternative Corridor 3.

• The first (Alt 4) continues southeast until it intersects with SR 79 approximately 0.5 mile
south of Marilyn Road.
• The second (Alt 4A) turns to the east and travels in this direction until it intersects with
SR 79 at Steel Field Road

the days of peace and quiet on the beautiful west bay will soon be replaced with jet engines and highway traffic. its amazing what we'll do to get a cheaper plane ticket......

the days of peace and quiet on the beautiful west bay will soon be replaced with jet engines and highway traffic. its amazing what we'll do to get a cheaper plane ticket......

dang right!!!

NFTCA has all sorts of information on not just this stretch of proposed roads, but many major proposed roads throughout NW Florida. There are maps, with labels, and priority lists, along with estimated costs, etc. -- truly eye-opening.

The map below shows the Gulf Coast Parkway proposed roads. Notice the connection of alternative corridor 8 and 17 into Hwy 388, which will basically allow people to go from South Walton to Mexico Beach, bypassing Panama City and Panama City Beach. If you look at the other NFTCA maps, you will see all kinds of alternative routes being proposed and planned.

about how many miles is the new airport to seaside or watercolor? thanks

NFTCA has all sorts of information on not just this stretch of proposed roads, but many major proposed roads throughout NW Florida. There are maps, with labels, and priority lists, along with estimated costs, etc. -- truly eye-opening.

The map below shows the Gulf Coast Parkway proposed roads. Notice the connection of alternative corridor 8 and 17 into Hwy 388, which will basically allow people to go from South Walton to Mexico Beach, bypassing Panama City and Panama City Beach. If you look at the other NFTCA maps, you will see all kinds of alternative routes being proposed and planned.

How heavenly it would be to zip over to Pt. St. Joe and Apalachicola without driving through PCB- which seems to be the majority of the drive!

about how many miles is the new airport to seaside or watercolor? thanks

how do you measure? as the crow flies? current shortest drive? future planned shortest proposed route?

In the Gulf Coast Parkway map, which I posted above, I think there is something implied by that particular map showing the extension of 388 to the west, being only one "proposed Gulf Coast Parkway extension." I believe that is the route which would come out on Side Camp Road in WaterSound.

How heavenly it would be to zip over to Pt. St. Joe and Apalachicola without driving through PCB- which seems to be the majority of the drive!

Yes, and also a major shortcut to Hwy 20 and/or I-10 when heading to/from Tallahassee! :cool:

Yes, and also a major shortcut to Hwy 20 and/or I-10 when heading to/from Tallahassee! :cool:

And the relaxing sound of jet engines as you sit on the back porch sipping cocktails.

And the relaxing sound of jet engines as you sit on the back porch sipping cocktails.

And you will have absolutely no excuse to not come sip cocktails with me, as suddenly your house will be about 20 miles closer to mine. 😀

West Bay Parkway Meeting 6/23/11

The expressway to the aiport is something we've reported here before and keeping an eye on. Check out the interactive map on the project website to see proposed routes.

The Florida Department of Transportation is proceeding with developing a parkway which basically centers around the new airport. They have plotted several alternative roadway routes which will be the subject of the upcoming public meeting in Walton County. Also, as they said at the county commission meeting last night, a toll road is not off the table. They also indicated that "No build" remains an option. For all of those interested in this planned roadway, here is an announcement about the public meeting next Thursday.
Anita Page
SWCC Executive Director

COUNTY ROAD 388 / WEST BAY PARKWAY, SEGMENT 1, PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING District: Three

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) invites you to attend a public meeting concerning improvements to CR 388 (West Bay Parkway, Segment 1) from US 98 in Walton County to SR 79 in Bay County [Financial Project Identification Number: 424464-1-22-01 and 424464-2-22-01]. Two meetings will be held, one in Panama City Beach and the other in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.
The proposed West Bay Parkway, Segment 1 project, will extend CR 388 and provide a new four-lane, divided highway and potentially a new high-level bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway (ICWW). The PD&E Study will evaluate several alignment options north of existing State Road (SR) 30A (US 98). At the west end of the project, the study will determine the best location for the intersection with SR 30A (US 98) between CR 30 and CR 395 in Walton County. At the east end of the project, the study will determine the best location for the intersection with SR 79 in Bay County. The proposed extension is estimated to be between 11.5 and 19.0 miles long, depending on the alternative alignment selected. Seven alternative alignments will be presented at the meeting.
These Public Meetings are being held in order to inform the public of the project progress and schedule, and to receive input on the project’s seven alternative alignment options. Aerial maps will be on display and project representatives will be on hand before and after the presentations to discuss the project and answer questions. Comment sheets will be collected at the meetings.
Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. Persons who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Brandon Bruner at least seven days prior to the meeting.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is proposing a new four-lane roadway, approximately 24 miles in length, referred to as the West Bay Parkway. The engineering firms of H.W. Lochner, Inc. and PBS&J have teamed together and are under contract with FDOT to conduct a Project Development & Environment (PD&E) study for the proposed West Bay Parkway (CR 388 Extension). During this study, potential locations for the new roadway will be identified and analyzed to document the impacts (both positive and negative) of the alternatives that are developed.

The overall project limits are from US 98 (SR 30) east of Peach Creek in Walton County to SR 77 in Bay County; however, the project will be divided into two segments (refer to the project map), with each segment having its own PD&E study.

The benefits of the new facility include improving mobility and interconnectivity in the regional transportation network and enhancing traveler safety. Additionally, the improvements will provide better access to the new Panama City-Bay County International Airport, improve hurricane evacuation and emergency response capabilities, promote economic development in the region, and increase capacity and relieve existing and anticipated traffic congestion, particularly along the US 98 corridor.

One of the first steps in identifying potential locations for the new roadway is to develop alternative corridors (which vary in widths from 500 to 1,000 feet). Through the utilization of Land Suitability Mapping (LSM), the project team has identified nine alternative corridors for Segment 1 and eight alternative corridors for Segment 2. These alternative corridors are currently under review and are being analyzed. To learn more about the LSM process and how these corridors were developed, please click on the LSM Technical Memorandums on the side menu.

Since the actual right-of-way required for West Bay Parkway (a range of between 150 and 350 feet, depending on the type of roadway that is ultimately selected) will be much less than the corridor widths, potential locations for the roadway can be developed within the corridors during the next phase of the PD&E study.

West Bay Parkway

Went to a meeting tonight for the West Bay parkway. This is a road from the airport in Panama City to Walton County. Donnie Bush of Bruce, speaking during the public comment section, stated that most of the alternative routes would have a negative impact on the Ivory Billed Woodpecker and likely cause it's demise in this part of the world. He had pictures and gave me one. There will be more public meeting on the project in the future. The only alternatives that would not impact the bird is route#2 or the no build option.

Edit- Just went to the website and the maps there are different than what was presented.

Donnie Bush who spoke during the public comment section gave me a photo of the bird he saw. It looks like an ivory bill to me from the head, distinct black on top red on the side http://www.fws.gov/ivorybill/images/Sibley-art-for-web.gif. The map you have posted is not what was presented at the meeting. The northern most segment green on your map has been eliminated. That route did not have a connector to 30A. The remaining alternatives dump traffic on 98 north of St. Joe's property so to get to 30A St. Joe can build a road through, or adjacent, to their golf course or use the exiting road they have. No build was mentioned as an option and hopefully will be the ultimate outcome.

The possible ivory billed is only one of many endangered species in the area whose habitats can impact road-building. There's a proposed Hurlburt bypass road to the west that's gotten pushed back indefinitely because of endangered salamander habitat concerns.

soappedaler, please post the photo of the ivory billed woodpecker. I would love to see it. I've always kept that bird in the back of my mind, and my camera poised, ready to shoot if I'm lucky enough to see one. I think any decent real photo would be worth several hundred thousand dollars to the photographer as it would surely hit National Geographic.

Donnie Bush who spoke during the public comment section gave me a photo of the bird he saw. It looks like an ivory bill to me from the head, distinct black on top red on the side http://www.fws.gov/ivorybill/images/Sibley-art-for-web.gif. The map you have posted is not what was presented at the meeting. The northern most segment green on your map has been eliminated. That route did not have a connector to 30A. The remaining alternatives dump traffic on 98 north of St. Joe's property so to get to 30A St. Joe can build a road through, or adjacent, to their golf course or use the exiting road they have. No build was mentioned as an option and hopefully will be the ultimate outcome.

Their website is stil showing the green route. Any word on why it was eliminated?

It doesn't look like any of the proposed roads connect to Scenic 30A. Do you mean connect to a current road which connects to Scenic 30A like WaterSound Parkway? Or a new road from 98 to Scenic 30A?

I would guess alt 6 or 7 would be the number one option as it is to the west of WaterSound and looks like it is close, maybe through, the St. Joe commercial park and close to WaterSound Pkwy, the existing connector to Scenic 30A.

I wonder if there would be an on/off ramp for Bunker? I suppose there are plenty of landowners north of the Intracoastal yearning for ramps.

Was there any talk of wetlands or bridges over wetalnds? How about wildlife underpasses?

No mention of why they made the changes. That elimination of the northern most route is not the only change, it appears that a more southerly route has been added. I don't have a scanner or I'd scan the new map and photo. I will bring the photo to the market with me on Saturday(8-12) so anyone wanting to see it can come by. The consultant said the next meeting will be sometime in the Fall of 2012. Remember that NO BUILD is an option.