Florida 297 connects Alternate U.S. 90/Nine Mile Road with U.S. 90/Mobile Highway. It acts with those two highways as a northern and western belt-line highway for the metropolitan area. An interchange with Interstate 10 (Exits 7A/B) funnels traffic southward to Perdido Key and the Pensacola Naval Air Station via U.S. 90 and Florida 173. The northern terminus transitions Florida 297 into Escambia County 297.
Mileage: 4.38 (Source:
Original Florida Route Log compiled by Justin Cozart)
Southern Terminus - U.S. 90/Bellview
Florida 297 carries four lanes from Interstate 10 south to U.S. 90 at this intersection. U.S. 90 widens to four lanes just to the north of this intersection in anticipation of traffic headed to the Naval Air Station and the beach areas of southwest Escambia County. Photo taken 05/14/02.
Perspective of the southern terminus of Florida 297 as seen from U.S. 90/Mobile Highway eastbound. The Pensacola State Fairgrounds are located to the right of this intersection. Photo taken 05/14/02.
Northern Terminus - Alternate U.S. 90/west of Ensley
Florida 297 northbound at its terminus with Escambia
County 297 and U.S. 90 Alternate. No end shield is posted for Florida 297, let alone an Escambia County 297
pentagon for northbound motorists continuing through the intersection. In the background is the intersection
with Escambia County 297A. Photo taken 09/29/02.
Close-up of Florida 297/Escambia County 297 signage on Alternate U.S. 90/Nine Mile Road westbound at the joint termini. Florida 297, however, reemerges in the southwestern portion of the county between U.S. 98/Florida 298 and Escambia County 292A. Alternate U.S. 90 is only two lanes through this stretch, but quickly divides to four lanes at U.S. 29 to the east. Photo taken 08/27/99.
Junction signage for Florida 297's northern terminus on U.S. 90 (Nine Mile Road) eastbound. The north-south state route continues Pine Forest Road south from Escambia County 296 to Interstate 10 (Exit 7), Florida 173 (Blue Angel Parkway), and U.S. 90 (Mobile Highway). Photo taken 05/07/04.
Span wire supported traffic signals still govern the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Pine Forest Road. Florida 297 interchanges with Interstate 10 0.8 miles to the south. Escambia County 297 journeys northward 0.2 miles to Escambia County 297A and 3.5 miles northeast to junction U.S. 29 at Gonzalez. Photo taken 05/07/04.
Florida 297 Guide
Florida 297 North
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.
Florida 297 South
Pine Forest Road upgrades from Escambia County 297 to Florida 297 as it crosses U.S. 90 Alternate (Nine Mile Road). The two-lane highway sees its first Florida 297 reassurance shield quickly thereafter near the intersection with Bush Street. Photo taken 05/07/04.
Widening brings Florida 297 (Pine Forest Road) up to four lanes as it approaches the partial-cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 10 (Exit 7). Interstate 10 links Pensacola with Mobile, Alabama to the west and Milton to the east. Overpasses for the freeway over Florida 297 were replaced in the late 1990s. Photo taken 05/07/04.
Four lanes of Florida 297 continue southward beyond the Interstate 10 interchange toward Florida 173. Pine Forest Road represents a busy connector between the freeway and U.S. 90 and Florida 173 for New Warrington and Pensacola Naval Air Station. Photo taken 05/07/04.
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.
0.9 miles remain of Florida 297 (Pine Forest Road) before the route concludes at junction U.S. 90 (Mobile Highway). Pictured here is the final southbound reassurance shield. Photo taken 05/07/04.
Florida 297 concludes at U.S. 90 (Mobile Highway) adjacent to the State Fairgrounds of Pensacola. No end shield is posted and traffic essentially defaults onto U.S. 90 eastbound for Bellview, West Pensacola, and Brownsville. Photo taken 05/07/04.
