State and local dignitaries gathered in Pensacola Monday, June 26 to kick off the construction of the new Pensacola Bay Bridge. The $398.5 million effort is the largest transportation infrastructure project in Northwest Florida history.

Construction crews have begun driving test piles for the new Pensacola Bay Bridge. Information derived from the test pile program will be used to determine the length and driving criteria for the permanent production piles that will provide the foundation for the new bridge.

The Road Ranger Service Patrol on the Pensacola Bay Bridge begins Monday, May 22. Service patrol vehicles will be stationed on each of the bridges between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekends and major holidays.

One of what will eventually be multiple barge-mounted construction cranes has been mobilized in Pensacola Bay. A Liebheer 1300 crane, with a lifting capacity of 330-tons is on-site, mounted atop a 150-by-50-foot barge.