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Brooks Bridge project takes shape with new pier construction

The Florida Department of Transportation reports crews have started building the initial pier for the $171-million Brooks Bridge Replacement Project in Okaloosa County, marking a significant step in the infrastructure upgrade.
FDOT

Construction crews are continuing to work on the first new pier for the Brooks Bridge Replacement Project, a major infrastructure initiative in Fort Walton Beach, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced Wednesday.

  • The project, valued at $171 million, aims to replace the existing four-lane bridge, which has been in service since 1966, with two new parallel bridges that will expand capacity to six travel lanes.

A recent aerial photograph taken above the Santa Rosa Sound, looking east toward Okaloosa Island, reveals several key components of the pier taking shape. The image shows a reinforced concrete slab, referred to as the pier “footing,” constructed at the waterline atop a group of foundation piles. This structure serves as the bridge’s foundation.

The photograph also captures two vertical pier columns rising from the foundation. These columns will support the bridge spans and transfer loads from the pier “cap” to the foundation below.

  • In addition to the concrete elements, the image shows a steel form that crews have erected on top of the new vertical columns. This form will be used to construct the concrete pier “cap,” a crucial component of the bridge’s support structure.

The Brooks Bridge Replacement Project is scheduled for completion in summer 2027. The project represents a significant upgrade to the area’s transportation infrastructure, doubling the number of travel lanes from the current four to six upon completion.

As construction progresses, local residents and travelers can expect to see more visible changes to the bridge structure.

One Response

  1. I suggest revising this statement: “doubling the number of travel lanes from the current four to six” since doubling four does not yield six.

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“Very glad to see this project going through,we don’t live here but we brought our bikes here from misssouri and drove over to 30A to ride”
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“I suggest revising this statement: "doubling the number of travel lanes from the current four to six" since doubling four does not yield six.”
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“No there was never one here.”
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“Sad that I know him and had no idea!”
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“How can we get this started at Bluewater ? yeah Mrs Crist , still loving and making a difference in children’s lives .”
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“This is such an awesome idea! Ms. Crist was my daughter Valerie's 2nd grade teacher when Valerie attended Bluewater Elementary School! Ms. Crist was born to teach!! Nellie Bogar, Youth...”
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