Florida bridge closed due to hurricane damage since September finally reopens

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced that a major bridge connecting Gulf Breeze and Pensacola has reopened after an eight month closure.

The Pensacola Bay Bridge (also known as Three Mile Bridge) reopened on Friday, May 28, ahead of the Memorial Day holiday, according to FDOT.

The bridge was closed due to heavily damages sustained after the structure was struck by barges during Hurricane Sally in September 2020.

FDOT says that as of Friday morning, most of the bridge is open to four lanes of traffic (two in each direction) except for a two-lane, half-mile segment just west of the bridge’s arch while work to complete final repairs continues.

Due to continuing work on the bridge, the speed limit has been temporarily set to 35 m.p.h.

“Consistent with the requirements within the construction contract, FDOT will continue to withhold payments of $35,000 per day until four lanes of traffic are restored to the entire southbound span of the Pensacola Bay Bridge. FDOT is regularly reviewing the contractor’s schedule of the entire Pensacola Bay Bridge Project with the anticipated completion date for all improvements currently scheduled for January 2022,” FDOT said in a news release.

Tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge will remain suspended through Sunday, June 6, 2021.

The video below was created by FDOT to prepare drivers for the reopening of the bridge.