Florida Construction News staff writer
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) held a groundbreaking ceremony this week for the Brooks Bridge replacement project in Okaloosa County.The $171 million project includes constructing two new parallel bridges over the Santa Rosa Sound to increase bridge capacity and improve traffic flow for this primary east-west connector between downtown Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island.
The new Brooks Bridge will feature six travel lanes (three eastbound and three westbound) versus the current four-lane structure that opened in 1966.Improvements include:
Replacing the current four-lane bridge with two structures that support three lanes of both east and westbound traffic, along with inside and outside shoulders.
The new bridge will measure 2,111 feet, 793 feet longer than the current one.
Vertical clearance will increase from 50 feet to 65 feet to meet U.S. Coast Guard regulations. The increased vertical clearance will be provided through the 150-foot channel.
Intersection improvements from Perry Avenue (west of the Fort Walton Beach shore) to Pier Road (east of the Okaloosa Island shore).
Drainage improvements, including new stormwater retention ponds.
Upgrading intersections approaching the bridge to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
Constructing new 12-foot shared-use paths on each side of the bridge, to include scenic outlooks.
Preliminary construction activities are now underway with project completion is scheduled for summer 2027.
