Interstate 110 Florida

History

Southern Terminus

Northern Terminus

Routing

Interstate 110 is the only spur route from Interstate 10 in the state of Florida. Its purpose it to facilitate traffic to and from downtown Pensacola to the only two-digit Interstate highway within the Panhandle of Florida. Additionally, the southern terminus ties into U.S. 98, a short distance from the Three-mile Pensacola Bay bridge. This connection grants fast access to Gulf Breeze and the Emerald Coast area of Pensacola Beach, Navarre, and Fort Pickens.

History

The following are key dates in the history of Interstate 110 in Florida:²

• 1968 - Interstate 110 first proposed to extend further south to what was then the city limits of Pensacola.
• 1969 - Interstate 110 constructed from Maxwell Street north to Interstate 10 (first segment to open).
• 1978 - Interstate 110 opened from Gregory St. north to Maxwell Street. Interstate 110 is now complete.

Future Aspirations

Plans for a northward extension of Interstate 110 to Nine Mile Road (Alternate U.S. 90) have been dropped for the near term due to funding related issues. Long-range plans still propose a further extension of the freeway to Interstate 65.

Additionally, a report came out during 2001 of a possible replacement of the four-lane U.S. 98 three-mile bridge over the bay. A six-lane facility is sought, and two plans exist on how to obtain this expansion. One is to widen the existing bridge. Two is to build a completely new span (with the possibility of retaining the current as well). What role does this play with Interstate 110? The new span or upgraded existing span is thought to directly connect with Interstate 110 via a limited access viaduct. This in effect, would extend Interstate 110 southward to the bay or possibly the south end of the bridge at Gulf Breeze. There are many restaurants and other structures along current U.S. 98/Gregory Street between the current south end and the north end of the bridge. So a viaduct between the two highways seems a daunting task considering everything that would have to be removed from the pathway.

Current Construction

Work is near completion on the six-laning of Interstate 110 from the Maxwell/Jordan Street diamond interchange northward to the Florida 742 (Creighton Road) overpass. Included in this total rebuild of the freeway is a new split-diamond interchange with Airport Boulevard and conversion of the diamond interchange with Florida 295 (Fairfield Drive) to a partial-cloverleaf interchange (a new northbound ramp connects with adjacent Florida 291 / Davis Highway). Construction begain in 2002 and will be completed by early summer 2009.

A $76 million construction project was completed at the Interstate 10/110 junction fall of 2008. The project entailed the six-laning of Interstate 10 from east of the Old Palafox Highway (Escambia County 95A) to east of the Davis Highway (Florida 291) interchange at Exit 13. Also included was the six-laning of Interstate 110 from the terminal interchange southward to just north of the Airport Road overpass. Improvements to the Interstate 10/110 trumpet interchange included a new flyover ramp from Interstate 10 west to Interstate 110 south. The nearby partial cloverleaf interchange with Davis Highway was redesigned with collector/distributor roadways to segregate local and through traffic. Florida 291 widened to six lanes from Interstate 10 south to University Mall as well.

Associated with the Interstate 10/110 project was the construction of a new Creighton Road overpass over Interstate 110. This new alignment extended the existing five lane Florida 742 to Hilburn Road where reunites with the original Florida 742 alignment at Burgess Road. Florida 742 is five lanes from Hilburn Road eastward to Florida 289/Ninth Avenue (A widening of Creighton Road between Davis Highway and Ninth Avenue was completed by 1996). Future plans, though not yet funded by the state legislature, call for extending Creighton Road further west to U.S. Highway 29.

Highway Guides

• Interstate 110 Florida

	Southern Terminus - Business U.S. 98 - Pensacola, Florida Perspective from Interstate 110 south See the Interstate 110 South highway guide for photos from this perspective. Perspective from Gregory Street westbound This photo was taken along westbound U.S. 98 where it turns to the north to meet and duplex with U.S. 90. Business U.S. 98 begins at the intersection, with the interchange with Interstate 110 just to the right of the Pensacola Civic Center. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (08/27/99). This photo shows the same scene as above, but during the month of December. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (12/03/00). There are two ways to get onto Interstate 110 north from downtown Pensacola. One is via U.S. 98/Business U.S. 98/Gregory Street westbound. This photograph looks at the sign bridge for the westbound Business U.S. 98/Gregory Street split with Interstate 110 northbound at the Pensacola Civic Center (large building on the left). Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (09/29/02). Nightime view of the signs that used to be in place at the Business U.S. 98 west/Interstate 110 northbound split. Traffic continuing to the left will reach downtown Pensacola on the west side of the Interstate 110 stack interchange. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (07/93). Gore point where Interstate 110 begins. The large 36" shield was installed for Interstate 110 during late 2001. Traffic ascends onto a viaduct for the first two miles of the freeway. The high-rise to the right is that of a hotel. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (09/29/02). Perspective from Chase Street eastbound See the Interstate 110 highway guide for photos from this perspective. Northern Terminus - Interstate 10 - Ferry Pass, Florida Perspective from Interstate 110 north See the Interstate 110 North highway guide for photos from this perspective. Perspective from Interstate 10 east See the Interstate 10 Eastbound (Escambia County) highway guide for photos from this perspective. Perspective from Interstate 10 west See the Interstate 10 Westbound (Escambia County) highway guide for photos from this perspective.

Sources:

1. i10-i110.com - interchange reconstruction project web site (defunct).
2. Florida's Interstates: A Half-Century of Progress - official Florida Department of Transportation site (defunct).

Page Updated May 18, 2009.