President Obama’s announcement Wednesday that bridge replacement would be accelerated under a new transportation plan includes one local project.
Speaking in Tarrytown, New York, Obama pointed to that city’s Tappan Zee Bridge replacement project – which is ahead of schedule -- as an example. And now, the President wants to broaden the list of such projects to be placed on the fast-track.
"We're announcing 11 more projects to accelerate, to get moving faster,” said the President. “From Boston's South Station to Pensacola Bay Bridge to new light-rail projects north and south of Seattle. The plan will cut bureaucratic red tape that stalls good projects from breaking ground."
Construction on the new Three Mile Bridge over Pensacola Bay is scheduled to begin in 2017. The estimated cost is $587 million over a five-year construction schedule.
The Florida Department of Transportation will conduct a public meeting on the project, at 5:30 p-m on June 10th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Pensacola. The format will be an informal open house, complete with videos, diagrams and FDOT officials to take comments and answer questions.
None of the plans will be finalized until after next month’s public hearing.