Hurricane Damaged Road Re-opens

Pensacola Beach Hurricane Ivan One of the last reminders of how damaging hurricanes can be has finally been repaired and is now open to the public.

by Debbie Williams

Published: Fri, March 06, 2009 - 3:42 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, March 06, 2009 - 6:35 pm CST

"This is a great day for Navarre Beach and Pensacola Beach." And with that announcement and the ceremonial cutting of a ribbon, the road through Gulf Islands National Seashore welcomed travelers for the first time since Hurricane Dennis blew through here in 2005.
J. Earle Bowden Way is the road's official name. "County commissioners voted that several years ago because they gave me credit for the establishment of Gulf Islands National Seashore," says the road's namesake.
But, most people know it as the road connecting Pensacola Beach with Navarre Beach. "The road is essential to the park. This island is 48 miles long and in order to get people back and forth, particularly senior citizens, you need the roadway," says Bowden.
The last time this road was open for a full year was 2003. That year 2 million people traveled the road.
"It needed to be reopened for safety. It needed to be reopened for recreation. It needed to be reopened for commerce," says Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson.
Portions of the road were destroyed by Hurricane Ivan, before repairs could be completed another tropical storm and two more hurricanes took the rest.
Now that the road is back, folks here hope they never have to repair it again.
Park Superintendent Jerry Eubanks says if someone is in a hurry, this is not the road to take. The new speed limit for the seven mile stretch of road is 35 miles per hour.

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