Brooks Bridge Replacement Project, Okaloosa County, FL
ABC Group is providing public information and community outreach services for the $171 million design-build project to replace the John T. Brooks Bridge in Fort Walton Beach. This high-profile project includes constructing two new parallel bridge structures for U.S. 98 traffic crossing the Santa Rosa Sound between downtown Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island. The new Brooks Bridge will feature six travel lanes and 12-foot-wide shared-use paths for pedestrians and bicyclists.
ABC Group is employing a multifaceted approach to keeping stakeholders informed of impacts to vehicular, pedestrian, bicycle, and watercraft traffic.
A project of this magnitude running through the heart of Fort Walton Beach does not come without challenges. This heavily traveled and congested section of U.S. 98 carries an average annual daily traffic count of 66,000 drivers. It’s also the only east-west corridor that connects the city of Fort Walton Beach to Okaloosa Island and Destin.
ABC Group has worked hard to build trust with community members, businesses, commuters, and project partners alike. The team is providing proactive, reliable, and effective communication by:
Maintaining contact with key stakeholders that include the City of Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa County, emergency services, and more.
- Working closely with FDOT to develop and launch public notification campaigns (announcing new traffic configurations, waterway safety information, etc.).
- Managing the project’s social media pages and email address to provide timely responses to stakeholder inquiries and concerns.
- Organizing in-person events, including public open houses and informational presentations for local organizations.
