Site Navigation Alabama Florida Georgia Louisiana Mississippi North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee     Florida 173 / Blue Angel Parkway Known as the Blue Angel Parkway, Florida 173 begins at the Gulf Beach Highway southeast of Florida 292, and ends at Florida 297 (Pine Forest Road) northwest of Pensacola. The highway traverses the far western suburbs of Pensacola. Mileage: 12.71 (Source: Original Florida Route Log compiled by Justin Cozart) Southern Terminus - Escambia County 297/Pensacola Naval Air Station Florida 173 concludes at Escambia County 292A (Gulf Beach Highway). A guide sign directs Blue Angel Parkway southbound motorists toward the west gate of Pensacola N.A.S. Blue Angel Parkway derives its name from the naval facility and its famous Blue Angels fighter planes. The base is home to the National Museum of Naval Aviation. Photo taken 05/16/04. Intersection of Escambia County 292A east with Florida 173. There are no signs whatsoever posted of the existence of Florida 173 at this intersection and the first northbound shield is not posted until north of the Florida 292 intersection. To the south is the west gate into Pensacola Naval Air Station. Photo taken 08/24/03. Northern Terminus - Florida 297/north of Bellview Florida 297 (Pine Forest Road) northbound at the terminus of Florida 173 (Longleaf Drive). Florida 173 extends northward from U.S. 90 and the Blue Angel Parkway to Florida 297 to allow continuity between the route between Pensacola N.A.S. and southwest Escambia County to Interstate 10. Photo taken 05/14/02. Guide sign posted on Florida 297 southbound for its intersection with Florida 173 (Blue Angel Parkway) and Longleaf Drive. Florida 173 provides a western bypass of Pensacola between Pine Forest Road and the west entrance to Pensacola N.A.S. Saufley Field constitutes a former military installation west of Pensacola on Escambia County 296. Photo taken 05/07/04. Junction Florida 173 shield on Florida 297 south. The intersection of Pine Forest Road and Blue Angel Parkway constitutes the northern terminus of Florida 173. The state route used to end at U.S. 90 to the northwest via Millview Road. Use Florida 173 south to access the National Museum of Naval Aviation. Photo taken 05/07/04. Florida 173 southbound departs Florida 297 via Longleaf Drive to Blue Angel Parkway. Longleaf Drive itself continues east to Kemp Road through residential areas. Photo taken 05/07/04. Florida 173 Guide Florida 173 North Northbound Florida 173 at U.S. 98 in the Myrtle Grove community. U.S. 98 constitutes a through route between Pensacola and south Baldwin County, Alabama. The highway expands to four lanes east of nearby Florida 727 as it serves the Pensacola Naval Hospital and the Warrington community. Photo taken 12/21/03. The first Florida 173 southbound reassurance shield, posted on Longleaf Drive west of Pine Forest Road (Florida 297). Florida 173 originally ended at U.S. 90 by way of Millview Road to the west. A new alignment relocates the state highway eastward to tie into Florida 297 south of Interstate 10. Photo taken 12/21/03. Approaching U.S. 90 (Mobile Highway) and the transition from Longleaf Drive onto Blue Angel Parkway of Florida 173. U.S. 90 travels northwest out of the Pensacola metropolitan area toward Seminole, Alabama west of Florida 173. Southeastward the federal highway sees an increase in both development and traffic into the Escambia County seat. Photo taken 12/21/03. Florida 173 South Florida 173 at U.S. 90. A freeway style guide sign directs motorists southward to the Pensacola Naval Air Station and its National Museum of Naval Aviation. Blue Angel Parkway bypasses most of the West Pensacola suburbs on the 12.2 mile drive between U.S. 90 and the military facility. Photo taken 12/21/03. Blue Angel Parkway turns southwest than south as it leaves U.S. 90. This southbound reassurance shield is posted between Mobile Highway and the Millview Road routing of the original Florida 173. Photo taken 12/21/03. The intersection with Florida 298 (Lillian Highway) resides within the rural community of Sand Cut. Florida 298 is an east-west highway between U.S. 98 near the Alabama state line eastward to Warrington and U.S. 90. Photo taken 12/21/03. Southbound Florida 173 (Blue Angel Parkway) as it departs the intersection with Florida 292 (Sorrento Road). The final 1.5 miles of Blue Angel Parkway is controlled access with no development. Photo taken 05/16/04. Junction Escambia County 292A (Gulf Beach Highway) as the Blue Angel Parkway nears its end at the west gate to Pensacola Naval Air Station. The Gulf Beach Highway straddles Big Lagoon and Pensacola N.A.S. between Florida 292 (Sorrento Road) west and northeast. Photo taken 05/16/04. Page Updated October 30, 2004.