Beulah interchange project gets $240 million in state funding. When construction will start.

A long-awaited transportation project to alleviate traffic and accommodate growth near Interstate 10 in Beulah got a huge push forward with $240 million approved in state funding for the Beulah interchange. Senator Doug Broxson confirmed the Legislature approved funding for the project during its last session and it was included when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the budget.

“It's a big deal list, and the money's already been set aside, so it's not a matter of future allocations,” said Broxson, who worked with legislators to “move money” from several federal projects that had stalled to fund the interchange. “We're going to get $240 million to do the exchange. It's amazing and I'm proud to be part of it.”

Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh is also “pumped” about the multi-million funding allocation for the interchange. He represents District 1 where the project will be built. The Beulah interchange has been a priority for Escambia County since he took office and for years it looked like the project would not make it past the planning phase anytime soon. Bergosh credits teamwork among local leaders and Broxson’s persistence in securing the funding to get started.

“It’s transformational. Once it's constructed, it will cut the traffic load in half. It will divide it by two,” said Bergosh. “Right now, everyone in Beulah that needs to get to the freeway has to go down Nine Mile Road, up Beulah Road, down around the corner, and all the way down to exit five. Well, now half of Beulah, which is west of Beulah Road, (will be able to) go right up Beulah Road and get to the interchange there.”

Local leaders say construction on the massive is expected to start next year, but it will also take years to complete. Just how long it will take to finish the project is still uncertain.

According to state transportation planners, work includes improvements for I-10 at Beulah Road (SR 99) Interchange and the Beulah Road Widening project. The intent is to widen Beulah Road from W. Nine Mile Road to Isaacs Lane; construct a new alignment from Isaacs Lane to W. Kingsfield Road; construct a new interchange at I-10; and widen I-10 from the state line to the Pensacola Weigh Station. Interstate 10 from the Alabama line to the Pensacola weigh station − an area surrounding the proposed interchange − would also expand from four lanes to six, comprised of three lanes in each direction.

Most recently, the interchange has been mentioned as part of the OLF-8 development in Beulah as residents and the County Commission struggle over how much commerce and what kind of commerce to bring to the area. Bergosh said funding for this latest project will be in addition to other big projects approved for the same area that are also moving forward. Together, he said they’ll bring much needed improvements to the area.

“We just got $50 million for exit five in Beulah in District 1. Now we're going to turn around and get another $240 million,” said Bergosh. “The next thing coming is $160 million from Gov. DeSantis’ Florida Forward. We're going to six lane I-10 from the weigh station, at Pine Forest Road., that's coming next. You add that all together, that's almost a half a billion to district one. It's because we're working together and we're getting things done.”

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Beulah I-10 interchange project gets $240 million in Florida funding