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July 24, 2007
The bike/walk path on River Road
is approximately two-thirds completed.
It
begins at the southwest corner of Perdido Key Drive and Gongora Drive,
crosses the street and turns left onto the right side of Don Carlos Drive,
continues down, across Siquenza to River Road and crosses over to the
North side of River Road. The pathway is then interrupted for a short
distance under the bridge and then continues on down the north side of
River Road to Canal A Way where it crosses the street by Holiday Harbor
Condominiums. The path zig zags thru the palm trees at Holiday Harbor and
is paved as far as River Bend Townhomes. From there nothing has been
cleared until you get about a half a mile from Florencia Condominium.
There the path is again constructed and paved all the way to the corner of
Perdido Key Drive. The areas that have not been started seem to be heavily
wooded, elaborately landscaped yards or wetlands. We assume that these
areas will be worked out in the near future. It is good to see some
progress. PKA constantly advocates bike / walk paths for the entire area.
We are concerned that the path does not appear to be built to the original
design specifications and in some areas is very close to the edge of the
roadway. We will continue to keep you informed.
PHOTOS
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OPINION | PNJ.com | October, 29, 2007
Lousy job on Perdido Key bike path
Dan Henderson
In May 2006, Escambia County proposed to construct a pedestrian path along
River Road, Don Carlos Drive and a portion of Gongora Drive on Perdido
Key.
A private engineering firm was retained by the county to provide the
required engineering for the wetlands. Escambia County would be
responsible for providing the final layout and design of the path over
non-wetland areas. Quality control was to be provided by the county during
the construction of the project.
The contract for the pedestrian path was signed in August 2006, for
construction of a 6-foot asphalt path.
The majority of the homeowners wanted the path be constructed on the
least-populated side of River Road, away from the vast majority of homes
with driveways, mailboxes, utilities, etc. It was explained that the cost
of crossing wetlands would be too expensive to do that. Completion date
was scheduled for 90 days.
Construction began, skipping across driveways and around mailboxes,
utilities and landscaping. After completing approximately 60 percent of
the path, construction was stopped.
There has been nothing done for months, because according to the county
they are waiting for permits from the state Department of Environmental
Protection to fill some wetlands.
This action was supposedly going to be too expensive for placing the path
on the least-congested side of the road, and was never considered to be an
alternative as all wetlands were to be crossed by bridges.
The path's construction has had very little quality control concerning
elevation, alignment and road separation. The separation from road to path
in some areas is one to two feet, which is dangerously close for
pedestrians or bike riders. The base material continues to spill across
the path, and now, following rain, water ponds in many places.
Considering all of the issues raised about the location, contract
discrepancies, poor quality control and construction, the Escambia County
Engineering Department and the contractor should be embarrassed.
I invite all residents to turn south on River Road and ride the entire
route, understanding that the wetland areas are to be crossed sometime in
the future. Take a close look at the appearance, location and
construction. Compare it to the ones located on Johnson Beach Road, Fort
Pickens Road or Orange Beach, Ala., and see what you are getting for
$300,000.
Perdido Key property owners will pay in excess of $20 million in gross
property taxes for 2007, and one would think that the community would get
a more professional job for the money.
Dan Henderson is a resident of Perdido Key.
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