Escambia County District 4 Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger, who is a member of the Tourist Development Council, unveiled the Pensacola Beach Gateway Improvement Project, at the Council’s April 15 meeting, along with a request for $2.5 million in funding.
The Gateway project area starts at the foot of the Bob Sikes Bridge and extends to the water tanks. It includes demolishing the existing toll booth and replacing it with an over-the-road arch with remote tolling capabilities. Upgrades to the multi-use path, adding fiber optics, turtle friendly lighting and landscaping are included in the project. Preliminary construction estimates are between $7 and $7.5 million with design costs at $1.6 million.
In its initial form, the arch has a scalloped top to mimic a sailfish’s fin and a predominate word “Pensacola” with a much smaller “beach.” The general concept and theme of the arch are in their final form, but some of the details may change, according to Commissioner Hofberger.
“We will be demolishing the dilapidated toll booth that does not house anyone. The beautiful arch that you see actually holds the toll reading equipment,” said Hofberger. “The completion of this would be before next summer.”
In order to save money and time, she opted to waive the public input meetings on this project.
Hofberger said the continuation of landscaping southward could be funded by the Island Beautification Fund, which are extra lease fees paid by Portofino leaseholders to the Santa Rosa Island Authority. She added that she is working in concert with beach officials to get a traffic management plan and a parking feasibility study which would include a parking garage in Casino Beach parking lot.
“I want to give the Pensacola Beach residents something they can be proud of as their travel to their neighborhoods and I want to give our tourists something that says ‘Welcome to our Beach,’” said Hofberger.
Council member and Pensacola Beach businessman Jim Reeves’ motion to allocate $2.5 million to the Pensacola Beach Gateway Improvement Project passed unanimously.
The TDC recommendation must go before the Escambia County Board of Commissioners for final approval.