With approximately 21,000 vehicles traveling Pensacola, Florida’s Blue Angel Parkway daily, the roadway’s two lanes are not enough to keep traffic flowing smoothly. Seeing the need for expansion, the Florida Department of Transportation District 3 chose Hanson to conduct a project development and environment study to evaluate widening Blue Angel Parkway (SR 173) to four lanes from SR 30(US 98) to SR 297 (Pine Forest Road).
The project is divided into three phases, with Hanson serving as the prime consultant responsible for project management, concept design, drainage, public involvement, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation and quality assurance/quality control. The first phase of the project involved data collection and analysis and conceptual design alternatives for the proposed four-lane section. The second phase involved refining the conceptual design alternatives and performing the environmental analysis and documentation. The third and final phase involved finalizing the conceptual design and preparing the NEPA documents.
The project has required a significant amount of planning and coordination with stakeholders and local authorities to make sure it is feasible and environmentally responsible. SR 173 is identified as a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Office of Greenways and Trails Opportunity Trail Corridor, and the study included recommendations for connecting it to the Great Florida Birding Trail adjacent to the project limits. The project proposed addressing pedestrian and bicyclist needs by adding a shared-use path and a sidewalk to complement the FDEP Trail Corridor.
The SR 173 widening project aims to improve transportation in the area by providing a wider, more efficient road for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. The project is expected to provide significant benefits to the community, including improved traffic flow, reduced congestion and heightened safety.
