Florida 196 constitutes a short state route along Bayfront Parkway and Main Street in downtown Pensacola. The highway is sparsely signed as it straddles the northshore of Pensacola Bay between Palafox Street and U.S. 98.
Hurricane Ivan vastly destroyed all of Bayfront Parkway due to its severe storm surge. The shoreline of Pensacola Bay from the U.S. 98 Bay Bridge westward to Main Street encountered serious erosion due to a high storm surge. Florida 196 was obviously impassable and closed indefinitely. Compromises involving the rebuilding of the road arose in December of 2004 when Rep. Holly Benson, R-Pensacola appealed to have Bayfront Parkway reopened as a two-lane roadway instead of its previous four-lane design. Her recommendation is based upon the concept of opening more of the waterfront for public use by reducing the width of Florida 196. Alternatively it is hoped to have improvements for pedestrians along the four-lane roadway.1 Nonetheless, Florida 196 and Bayfront Parkway was reconstructed and reopened to traffic by the end of 2004 in its original configuration.
Mileage: 1.02 (Source:
Original Florida Route Log compiled by Justin Cozart)
Western Terminus - Main & Palafox Streets/downtown Pensacola
Florida 196 begins in silent fashion at the intersection of Main and Palafox Streets south of downtown Pensacola. There are no signs on either street to indicate that Florida 196 exists. Pictured here is Main Street eastbound as it becomes Florida 196. Photo taken 12/20/03.
Eastern Terminus - U.S. 98/east of downtown Pensacola
Check fuel warning sign posted for traffic headed to the U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge from Florida 196 (Bayfront Parkway) eastbound. The overhead is posted at the 12th Avenue intersection as Bayfront Parkway nears its merge with U.S. 98 (Chase Street) east. The bay bridge of U.S. 98 is three miles and length and without shoulders. Therefore it is unlawful to run out of gas and block traffic on the span. Photo taken 05/09/04.
Florida 196 eastbound transitions into U.S. 98 eastbound at Chase Street. There is no end sign or shield for U.S. 98. New mast-arm signal assemblies however include internally lit street signs. 17th Avenue is one third of a mile ahead and the Pensacola Bay Bridge beyond that intersection. Photo taken 05/09/04.
U.S. 98 (Gregory Street) splits with Bayfront Parkway (Florida 196) just beyond the 17th Avenue intersection. Bayfront Parkway carries Florida 196 westward to Tarragona Street and downtown along Pensacola Bay. U.S. 98 splits into the one-way street couplet of Gregory Street (westbound) and Chase Street (eastbound) between 17th Avenue and Ninth Avenue. Photo taken 06/19/05.
The first and only westbound Florida 196 shield, posted on Bayfront Parkway as it branches west from U.S. 98. The Three Mile Bridge over Pensacola Bay is just to the southwest. A monument to the Five Flags of the city is situated to the right. Photo taken 03/23/02.
A revisit to the same stretch of four lane parkway reveals a replacement for the Florida 196 reassurance shield. Florida 196 travels Bayfront Parkway from Chase Street west to Florida Blanca Street. At that intersection, Bayfront Parkway transitions into Main Street. Photo taken 12/06/03.
Florida 196 Guide
Florida 196 East
Interstate 110 "Florida" trailblazer posted at the Main Street intersection with Tarragona Street. Tarragona Street travels seven blocks north from Florida 196 to the Chase Street on-ramp of Interstate 110. The date stamp on this particular shield displays 1987. Tarragona Street is lined with railroad tracks from the city pier northward. Hurricane Ivan's winds tore the left arrow placard from below the Interstate 110 shield. Photo taken 12/20/03.
The only shield posted for Florida 196 in the eastbound direction is this assembly at the intersection of Main Street and Barracks Street. Main Street departs the central business district toward Bayfront Parkway at this point. Photo taken 12/20/03.
A detailed photo of the only Florida 196 eastbound reassurance shield. There are no Florida 196 shields posted along any of the intersecting streets. Photo taken 11/27/99.
Now along Bayfront Parkway, Florida 196 intersects the south end of Alcaniz Street. Alcaniz travels northward to the Interstate 110 southern terminus stack interchange. The surface arterial becomes U.S. 98 Business for two blocks before composing the northbound beginning of
Florida 291. Photo taken 12/20/03.
Florida 196 West
Florida 196 (Bayfront Parkway) westbound at the signalized intersection with U.S. 98 (Chase Street) eastbound. U.S. 98 eastbound follows Bayfront Parkway to its merge with U.S. 98 westbound near 17th Avenue. Bayfront Parkway continues west to 12th Avenue and downtown Pensacola ahead. Photo taken 06/19/05.
Sources:
1 - "Council has more to say on Bayfront rift." The Pensacola News Journal, December 10, 2004.
