Florida 281 / Avalon Boulevard / Garcon Point Bridge
Florida 281 was originally sign-posted along Avalon Boulevard from Interstate 10 north to U.S. 90 in Pace. However, upon the completion of the tolled Garcon Point Bridge, Florida 281 was extended southward as Florida Toll 281 to Santa Rosa Island. With the extension, Florida 281 finally made it on Interstate 10 related guide signs. Overall the highway is two lanes (with a brief four lane segment at Interstate 10). Development increases at a rapid rate within the vicinity of the Exit 22 interchange of the freeway.
Garcon Point Bridge
Opened after three years of construction in May of 1999, this bridge links U.S. 98 in southern Santa Rosa County to Interstate 10 near Milton. The purpose of the bridge is to alleviate growing traffic concerns along the 3-Mile Pensacola Bay Bridge and to facilitate hurricane evacuation traffic to Interstate 10 and points northward.
This bridge itself is about three miles in length and carries a $3.00 toll per passenger vehicle. Overall speed limit is 55 on the two lane span. The toll plaza, located on Garcon Point to the north, allocates four universal lanes and two Florida Sunpass lanes. The Sunpass, similar to the EZ Pass system in other parts of the country, is a prepaid toll account that allows drivers to proceed through the plaza at 25 mph while having a decal on their vehicle scanned removing the fare from their account. Sunpass is a statewide system in Florida.
The early traffic counts were disappointing and turned out to be a foreteller of what was to come for the Garcon Point Bridge. Traffic counts remained much lower then what was anticipated, thus not generating the revenue needed to cover bond payments taken out for the construction of the bridge. Therefore, the tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge were raised to $3.00 during 2001. With the distinction highest tolled bridge in Northwest Florida, the Garcon Point Bridge may see an even further decrease in traffic counts.
It should be noted that in the time leading up to the September 15, 2004 landfall of Hurricane Ivan, that tolls on the Garcon Point Bridge were lifted to help hasten the evacuation process of the barrier islands. The bridge itself suffered only minor damage, mainly to the approaches, and reopened to traffic within a week of the closing.
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| Mileage: 10.74 (Source:
Original Florida Route Log compiled by Justin Cozart)
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| Southern Terminus - U.S. 98/Santa Rosa Island
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The southern terminus of Florida Toll 281 coincides with an entrance to a Walmart Supercenter on U.S. 98 (Gulf Breeze Parkway). Drivers can exit the shopping center parking lot and enter Florida Toll 281 northbound directly at the pictured intersection. U.S. 98 (Gulf Breeze Parkway) travels to Gulf Breeze to the left and Navarre to the right. Photo taken 05/09/04. |
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The Garcon Point Bridge was constructed between 1996 and 1999 to link northern and southern Santa Rosa Counties across Santa Rosa Sound. The two-lane toll bridge spans the waters between Santa Rosa peninsula and Garcon Point east of Pensacola Bay. A $3.00 car toll is levied on all passenger vehicles regardless of direction traveled. Photo taken 05/09/04. |
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An 11-mile drive carries motorists northward across the Garcon Point Bridge on Florida Toll 281 to junction Interstate 10 (Exit 22) at Avalon Beach. The creation of the span was an effort to give an alternative route between Milton & Interstate 10 and U.S. 98 & Santa Rosa Island in lieu Pensacola. During Hurricane Ivan tolls across the Garcon Point Bridge were lifted to expedite the evacuation process. The span was also built for that very reason, to provide for a third north-south road for Pensacola Beach and Navarre. Photo taken 05/09/04. |
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Florida Toll 281 travels 11 miles northward from U.S. 98 (Gulf Breeze Parkway) to the Exit 22 diamond interchange of Interstate 10. Garcon Point Road (Santa Rosa County 191) stems northeast from Avalon Boulevard north of the span to Exit 27 of the freeway. For motorists destined for Tallahassee, a 14-mile drive to Interstate 10 awaits. Photo taken 05/09/04. |
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The northbound beginning of Florida Toll 281 departs U.S. 98 and the Santa Rosa peninsula to the north. The two-lane span carries a $3.00 toll for all passenger vehicles. Florida Toll 281 splits with Garcon Point Road for Avalon Boulevard in 7.1 miles. Photo taken 05/09/04. |
| Northern Terminus - U.S. 90/Milton
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Florida 281 draws to a close at U.S. 90 adjacent to the Avalon Boulevard intersection with Santa Rosa County 191 (Old Bagdad Highway). Horizontally orientated traffic lights were installed here to replace a span wire assembly in the early 2000s. The entrance to the Milton Campus of Pensacola Junior College is to the left. Photo taken 07/17/04. |
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Florida 281 provides the main access route between Interstate 10 (Exit 22) and the community of Pea Ridge at U.S. 90 via Avalon Boulevard. The state route ends at U.S. 90 adjacent to the Santa Rosa County 191 split from Avalon Boulevard along Old Bagdad Highway. Pictured here is the junction shield for the state route on U.S. 90 eastbound after Gainer Avenue. Photo taken 05/31/04. |
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U.S. 90 eastbound at the north end of Florida 281 (Avalon Boulevard) at Pea Ridge. A Florida Toll 281 and Garcon Point Bridge trailblazer coincide with the southbound Florida 281 & to Interstate 10 shields at the Avalon Boulevard intersection. Florida 281 saw extension southward to U.S. 98 at Oriole Beach with the 1999 opening of the two-lane Garcon Point Bridge. The state route originally ended 4.8 miles to the south at the Exit 22 diamond interchange of Interstate 10. Photo taken 05/31/04. |
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Approaching the northern terminus of Florida 281 (Avalon Boulevard) on U.S. 90 westbound at Pea Ridge. Avalon Boulevard links the U.S. 90 corridor with Interstate 10 (Exit 22) to the south. Florida 281 originally was signed on just the five mile stretch of roadway between the two highways. Photo taken 07/17/04. |
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In 1999 however, the Garcon Point toll bridge opened to traffic, extending Florida 281 southward to Oriole Beach and U.S. 98. The two-lane span continues Florida 281 south from Santa Rosa County 191 (Garcon Point Road) 6.5 miles to U.S. 98 (Gulf Breeze Parkway). The privately built bridge carries a $3.00 toll for all passenger vehicles. Photo taken 07/17/04. |
Florida 281 Guide
| Florida 281 North |
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Florida 281 (Avalon Boulevard) northbound at the Interstate 10 (Exit 22) diamond interchange. The state route used to begin here and the overpasses for the freeway above Avalon Boulevard were rebuilt in 1996-97. Development has been explosive in the area within the last 10 years resulting in numerous new residential subdivisions off Avalon Boulevard between Interstate 10 and Pea Ridge. Photo taken 07/17/04. |
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Approaching Santa Rosa County 281 (Del Monte Street) at the community of Avalon Beach on Florida 281 (Avalon Boulevard) northbound. Santa Rosa County 281 loops west from Florida 281 to Montecito Boulevard before ending at Santa Rosa County 191A (Mulat Road). Photos taken 07/17/04 & 11/28/04. |
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Florida 281 northbound reassurance shield posted after the intersection with San Martino Street at Avalon Beach. Avalon Boulevard crosses a small canal en route to Moors Oaks Drive, Strathauer Road, and the undercrossing of the CSX Railroad line. Photo taken 07/17/04. |
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Junction shield for Santa Rosa County 281B (Cyanamid Road) on Florida 281 (Avalon Boulevard) northbound at the intersection of Bach Road and Pebble Ridge Drive. Cyanamid Road carries Santa Rosa County 281B westward 0.7 miles to its end at junction Santa Rosa County 191A (Murat Road) and 191B (Steriling Way). Photo taken 07/17/04. |
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Continuing northward on Florida 281 beyond the Santa Rosa County 281B eastern terminus at Yucca Drive. Santa Rosa County 191A (Murat Road) joins Florida 281 0.8 miles ahead. Photo taken 07/17/04. |
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Midway between the Santa Rosa County 191A (Murat Road) merge onto Florida 281 northbound and the intersection with Santa Rosa County 191 at Carroll Road. Carroll Road stems eastward to Galt City Road within the community of Pea Ridge. Photo taken 07/17/04. |
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Florida 281 intersects Santa Rosa County 191 (Old Bagdad Highway & old U.S. 90) ahead of its terminal intersection with U.S. 90 in Pea Ridge. Santa Rosa County 191 begins at Avalon Boulevard and travels eastward to Forsythe Street in the town of Bagdad itself. The mast-arm traffic signal governs the intersection of Avalon Boulevard with U.S. 90 in the background. Photo taken 07/17/04. |
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Junction U.S. 90 shield posted ahead of the Old Bagdad Highway intersection. There once was a traffic light situated with Santa Rosa County 191. Improvements to the intersection with U.S. 90 however eliminated that light. Photo taken 07/17/04. |
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A pair of right-hand turn lanes serve both Santa Rosa County 191 (Old Bagdad Highway) eastbound and U.S. 90 eastbound. Bagdad likes 2.5 miles to the east. The Santa Rosa County seat of Milton is just two miles to the northeast alog U.S. 90. Photo taken 07/17/04. |
| Florida 281 South |
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Florida 281 (Avalon Boulevard) southbound as it splits with Santa Rosa County 191A (Murat Road) south of Pea Ridge. Murat Road sinks southwestward to Avalon Beach (via Santa Rosa County 281) and the hamlet of Mulat from Avalon Boulevard. Photo taken 07/17/04. |
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Southbound at the eastern terminus of Santa Rosa County 281B (Cyanamid Road). Cyanamid Road heads westward for 0.7 miles to its junction with Santa Rosa County 191A (Murat Road) and Santa Rosa County 191B (Steriling Way). Santa Rosa County 191B becomes Santa Rosa County 197A (Bell Lane) on the return to U.S. 90 at Pace. Photo taken 07/17/04. |
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Florida 281 southbound ascends to cross over the CSX Railroad line south of Cyanamid Road. Exit 22 of Interstate 10 resides 2.7 miles ahead at Avalon Beach. There Florida 281 becomes Florida Toll 281 en route to the Garcon Point Bridge. Photo taken 07/17/04. |
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Santa Rosa County 281 (Del Monte Street) loops southeast from Murat Road via Montecito Boulevard through Avalon Beach to Florida 281 (Avalon Boulevard). Del Monte Street is one of five east-west roadways composing the Avalon Beach street grid. Photo taken 07/17/04. |
Page Updated November 1, 2004.
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