Beach road collapsed in areas

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State Road 399 connecting Navarre Beach to Pensacola Beach sustained substantial damage, according to Dan Brown, superintendent of Gulf Islands National Seashore.

“It (the damage) is moderate compared to Hurricane Ivan in 2004,” Brown said. “Nonetheless, the road is not safe to travel on at this point. The road will stay closed until repairs can be made.”

Brown reported the westbound lane was collapsed in five places, leaving only the eastbound lane on the Gulf side undamaged.

“There may be more today because there was still water on the road yesterday,” said Brown.

There are 18 locations where the shoulder of the road has collapsed and there could be more as the water moves away from the road, according to Brown.

“The plan is to get Federal Highway (Administration) to do a complete inspection for cost estimate and seek funding to do repairs,” said Brown. “I don’t know how long it will take.”

Brown did report that Naval Live Oaks and Fort Barrancus will reopen today; Perdido Key (Johnson Beach) will open up to the main parking lot tomorrow; Fort Pickens will be closed over the weekend.

“What we learned from Tropical Storms Lee and Debby is it will probably take the better part of a week (to remove sand from the roads) so Sept. 7 it (Ft. Pickens) should be opened,” said Brown.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.