Just a taste of what the County highways and back roads of Northwest Florida resemble and how confusing some of the designations can be. Photographs are taken from various photo excursions between August of 1999 and April of 2002. The locator map above shows most of what is covered here. Exceptions occur in Pensacola and the northern reaches of Escambia County. Tables organized by route.
The first eastbound Escambia County 4 shield, posted after the highway begins from Florida 97 east of Bratt. Photo taken 08/24/02.
Junction Escambia County 99 as seen from County 4 eastbound. The village of Bratt consists of some residences and a few small businesses. Photo taken 08/24/02.
Old style Florida 4 shield on Escambia County 4 eastbound approaching U.S. 29. This shield stems from when Florida 4 overlapped with U.S. 29 in Century and continued west along County 4. This assembly is the last within all of Escambia County to feature the older style shield design for a state road. It remained in use as of February 2006. Photos taken 12/07/99 & 02/08/06.
An original U.S. 29 red/white shield was located at the east end of Escambia County 4. What was left of this shield only retained a fraction of its original facing, of which no color was leftover. Photo taken 08/24/02.
The old U.S. 29 shield was replaced by 2006, but with an erroneous Florida 29 shield, the third such assembly posted within Escambia County since 2003. The other assemblies were at the south end (since replaced) and west end of Florida 742 (still in place as of February 2006). Photo taken 02/08/06.
Escambia County 4A East
Sun-bleached junction U.S. 29 red/white shield on Escambia County 4A eastbound. The red and yellow shields never fared well to the strong Floridian sunshine, and were one of the reasons for abandoning the use of them. A local took it upon him/herself to spray paint "29"
on the faded shield. A closer look shows what can be barely made out as "JCT". Photo taken 08/24/02.
What is left of the junction U.S. 29 sun-bleached shield still stood in place as of February 2006. Photo taken 02/08/06.
Badly faded red U.S. 29 shield on Escambia County 4A eastbound at U.S. 29 in Century. The only red U.S. 29 shields to remain posted in Florida are on County routes 4 and 4A eastbound in Century. This photo shows the shield in the best condition. Photo taken 12/07/99.
A revisit to the area shows that the U.S. 29 red shield at the Escambia County 4A eastern terminus is still in place. Photo taken 02/08/06.
Escambia County 4A West
First westbound Escambia County 4A shield, posted just past
the U.S. 29 terminus intersection. The county highway parallels Escambia County 4 to the north, linking the
highway with U.S. 29 on an alternate alignment in the Century area. Photo taken 08/24/02.
A short county highway between Florida 87 and 4 near Fidelis. This roadway cuts the corner of Florida 87 to Florida 4 for traffic headed west towards Jay and Century. Overall the highway carries a 55 mph speed limit with next to no dwellings along its short two mile stretch. This photograph displays the first southbound shield and was taken 08/24/02.
Old U.S. 29
Escambia County 95A North
Escambia County 95A (Palafox Street) northbound at the western terminus of Florida 290 (Olive Road) at the community of Olive. Palafox Street represents the original U.S. 29 alignment through north Pensacola. The two-lane alignment constitutes a good alternate to the congested U.S. 29 (Pensacola Boulevard) to the west. Florida 290's end here is a remnant from its days as U.S. 29. Photo taken 05/07/04.
Northbound Escambia County 95A at Escambia County 184 northeast of Cantonment. County 184 is an east-west highway that crosses the Escambia River and wetlands area to the east en route to Santa Rosa County 197 near Pace. Photo taken 12/09/01.
The southern terminus of Florida 97 is located in this sleepy area near Molino. Florida 97 intersects with U.S. 29 less then one-half mile to the northwest of this intersection. Escambia County 95A travels a short distance northwards before concluding at U.S. 29/Florida 95. Photo taken 12/09/01.
Escambia County 95A South
Old Escambia County 95A shield southbound at the southern terminus of Florida 97. A good portion of Escambia County 95A shields are bannerless like the one in this photograph. Photo taken 12/09/01.
One of the disjointed segments of Escambia County 99 follows Beulah Road between Escambia County 184 (Scenic Drive) and U.S. 90 (Mobile Highway). This otherwise rural highway serves a Pensacola landfill and sees an overcrossing of Interstate 10. This northward looking photograph displays the bridge over Interstate 10. Photo taken 12/20/03.
Escambia County 164 East
Escambia County 164 eastbound at its end with junction U.S. 29 near McDavid. County Road 164 travels east-west between Escambia 97 and U.S. 29 in rural northern Escambia County. Pictured here is a faded junction U.S. 29 red shield devoid of its color. there is no U.S. 29 shield posted at the actual intersection. Photo taken 02/08/06.
Escambia County 184 East
This crossing of the Perdido River composes the eastern terminus of Alabama 112 and the western terminus of Escambia County 184. The two highways offer an alternate to Interstate 10 and Alabama 59 between Pensacola metro and the Baldwin County seat of Bay Minette. 30 miles compose Alabama 112 between U.S. 31 and the Sunshine State. Photo taken 12/20/03.
Escambia County 184 takes on the name Scenic Drive as it enters the slow rolling hills of northwest Florida. This photograph displays the first eastbound reassurance shield of the east-west highway. Scenic Drive becomes Muscogee Road en route to Cantonment and U.S. 29. Photo taken 12/20/03.
Like the majority of county routes in the Sunshine State, Escambia County 184 exists in more then one portion. This photograph takes a look at county 184 (Scenic Drive) eastbound at the northern end of Beulah Road (Escambia County 99). Escambia County 184 sees a second Escambia County segment at Escambia County 95A via Quintette Road. This routing arcs eastward into Santa Rosa County, constituting one of three Escambia River crossings in Florida. Photo taken 03/23/02.
Milton area roads. Notice that Santa Rosa County 191 follows four different roadways.
Santa Rosa County 191 North
Colored U.S. 90 shield assembly on Santa Rosa County 191 (Canal Street) northbound approaching U.S. 90 in Milton. Photo taken 11/26/99.
Santa Rosa County 191 (Oliver Street) northbound on the western branch of the county highway in Milton at the signalized intersection with Alabama Street. Photo taken 11/28/99.
On the southern branch (Broad Street) of Santa Rosa County 191 in Milton is this shield assembly for the east end of the western branch (Oliver Street). The two branches merge to the right on he Munson Highway into Blackwater River State Forest. A local park adjacent to the Blackwater River is situated to the right. Photo taken 11/28/99.
Santa Rosa County 191 South
Santa Rosa County 191 (Munson Highway) southbound at the branch split of Oliver Street (western branch) and Broad Street (southbound branch) in the city of Milton. Oliver Street ends at Florida 87 (Stewart Street) two blocks to the west. Broad Street carries the southern branch eight blocks south to U.S. 90 & Florida 87 (Caroline Street) in downtown. Photo taken 05/31/04.
Old style Florida 87 shield on Santa Rosa County 191 (Oliver Street) westbound between Alabama Street and Stewart Street in the city of Milton. Unfortunately the junction shield was removed by 2004. Photo taken 11/28/99.
County Highway Confusion
Confusing setup of county highways between U.S. 90 and Interstate 10 along Florida 281.
Santa Rosa County 191A northbound at the joint termini of County routes 191B and 281B. Photo taken 11/28/99.
Western terminus of Santa Rosa County 281B at the northbound beginning of Santa Rosa County 191B and another incantation of Santa Rosa County 191A. Photo taken 11/28/99.
Junction Santa Rosa County 281 shield on Florida 281 northbound. Photo taken 11/28/99.
First southbound shield for Santa Rosa County 191C to the south of Bagdad. County 191C loops to the east of County 191 near Interstate 10. Photo taken 11/28/99.
Escambia County 197 North
Blue U.S. 90 shield assembly on Santa Rosa County 197 northbound at U.S. 90 in Pace. Photo taken 11/28/99.
First northbound County 197 reassurance shield after crossing U.S. 90 in Pace. A mileage sign in the background reads Chumuckla 13/Jay 29. Photo taken 11/26/99.
Santa Rosa County 197A sees its northern terminus at the County 197 and the eastern terminus of County 184 northwest of Pace. Photo taken 12/09/01.
Escambia County 292A (Gulf Beach Highway) on the drive east of Florida 173 (Blue Angel Parkway) and the west gate of the Pensacola Naval Air Station. The Gulf Beach Highway joins Florida 292 in 1.9 miles at the end of Escambia County 292A. Photo taken 05/16/04.
A rare Escambia County 399 reassurance shield in Pensacola Beach. The County highway is basically unsigned throughout the Gulf Islands National Seashore and Pensacola Beach vicinity. This shield is located soon after leaving the seashore area from the east and is the only we have been able to find. Photo taken 03/16/02.
Escambia County 453 North
The northbound beginning of Escambia County 453 (W Street). W Street composes a secondary arterial in the western reaches of the city between U.S. 98 (Navy Boulevard) and U.S. 29 (Pensacola Boulevard). The roadway is also home to the sprawling T & W Flea Market. Photo taken 12/21/03.
W Street northbound at U.S. 90 & 98. Escambia County 453 represents the dividing line in naming conventions for the federal highway overlap. To the west the pair take on the name Mobile Highway. Eastward U.S. 90 & 98 become Cervantes Street. Photo taken 12/21/03.
Escambia County 453 (W Street) northbound at junction Florida 295 (Fairfield Drive). Posted here erroneously however are Florida 727 shields in lieu of Florida 295 shields. Florida 727 begins 1.7 miles to the southwest at the Fairfield Drive split with the New Warrington Spur. Photo taken 05/08/04.
Escambia County 453 South
Partially obscurbed by the palm leaves, a southbound reassurance marker for Escambia County 453 resides along W Street after its intersection with Cervantes Street (U.S. 90 & 98). The signalized intersection in the background is that with Jackson Street. Photo taken 05/08/04.
Escambia County 453 southbound at its terminus with U.S. 98 (Navy Boulevard). These colored U.S. 98 and old style Florida 294 shields were replaced within three months of this photograph. Florida 294 was the cosigned state route between downtown Pensacola and Florida 295 at one point. The state highway was retired in the late 1970s or early 1980s. Photo taken 08/27/99.
Replacement of the sign assembly at the south end of Escambia County 453. Note that Florida 30, which is normally relegated to hidden status, is displayed with its U.S. 98 counterpart. Photo taken 05/08/04.
