Construction on Hwy 331 just South of Freeport Begins

This is just another step in meeting the continuing growth of the Freeport and the surrounding area. I believe the Freeport area is on the move with the additional highway section of Hwy 331, planned Publix's Grocery store, and the completion of the new international airport on the horizon. Stay tuned, more to follow.


U.S. 331 widening to begin
The $10.4 million project, to start next month, is expected to ease hurricane evacuations in South Walton County
By KIMBERLY WHITE Florida Freedom Newspapers 654-6905, Ext. 244 kimw@nwfdailynews.com

SANTA ROSA BEACH — Construction crews are expected to begin widening U.S. Highway 331 from the Clyde B. Wells Bridge to U.S. Highway 98 next month. Workers recently finished clearing vegetation along the stretch and are laying new drainage pipes, said a representative of C.W. Roberts Contracting. The $10.4 million project — which includes new traffic signals, sidewalks and bicycle lanes — is expected to be completed in 2010, said Tommie Speights, district spokesman for the Florida Department of Transportation. No major traffic delays are expected because construction will be done off the road, he said. The work is part of a multiphased project that Walton County commissioners say will boost economic development and provide a better hurricane evacuation route. County commissioners want U.S. 331 to be widened to Interstate 10, including widening the Clyde B. Wells Bridge to four lanes. But Speights said it’s not clear if or when funding will be available. The DOT “works off of a five-year work program, and right now construction is not in the five-year work program,” he said. In October, commissioners met with Florida Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Kopelousos to make their case for the project. Speights said he has not heard back on the status of their request