3 Mile Bridge Toll

[KingCrab]

When it was first built back in the 50's? maybe. If you look @ the Pensacola history books it was there. It was then .35 cents each way . It was a draw bridge then. The old bridge they just tore down recently. Before bob Sykes was built the old bridge was a draw bridge also with what i think was a toll then. Point is, They can as bad as the economy is try to charge us. I have no problem with an reasonable annual pass like bob sykes has now. Cut the locals some slack, Charge the All Mighty tourist the diffrence.

[ΩMEGA]

Kinda sucks, but oh well! just another tax write off! i think we have it pretty cheap here, so i wont fret about it. one of the car dudes said we are "thousands living in a place millions wish they could", and thats pretty accurate! ... yet people bitch bitch bitch bitch lol!

[Play N Hooky]

So it's going to cost $7.00 to go to the beach and back ($3.00 each way on 3-mile and $1.00 for Bob Sikes)?

[Hoos'ride]

they only time I go to GB is to launch the boat. looks like Texar will get alot more business if they toll 3 mile

[Play N Hooky]

Oh crap! If you factor in the $1.00 extra per axle that's $10 extra just to launch at shoreline.

[patoz]

I love old history about our area, so I decided to do a little research on the bridges.

The original Pensacola Bay Bridge (Three Mile Bridge)opened on Saturday, June 12 - 13, 1931, in a two day ceremony, along with the Pensacola Beach Bridge and the Casino. It was built by private capital as a toll structure with a draw bridge, and had a $5.00 per month toll.

Thomas A. Johnson Bridge

The Thomas A. Johnson Bridge (often called the Old Pensacola Bay Bridge) was the first bridge to span the three-miles of Pensacola Bay between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze. It was built for $2.5 million by the Pensacola Bridge Corporation and opened on June13, 1931 - simultaneously with the original Pensacola Beach Bridge over Santa Rosa Sound and the Casino resort on Pensacola Beach.
It was a bascule bridge and featured a double-leaf design that could be raised by electric motor for large ships. Motorists were charged a $5 monthly toll.

The Frisco Employees' Magazine described the bridge's structure:

“As the party approached Pensacola Bridge over the newly completed approach road, they saw a tremendous structure of reinforced concrete three miles In length, containing 293 spans ... A navigation opening with an electrically operated drawbridge with a clearance of 80 feet horizontal and 17 feet vertical, provides an opening for ocean-going craft at the approximate center of the bridge.”

The bridge was renamed in 1948 to honor Thomas A. Johnson, who was responsible for removing the toll.
http://www.pensapedia.com/wiki/Thomas_A._Johnson_Bridge

“The new bridge opened to traffic on October 31, 1960, at which time it replaced the Thomas A. Johnson Bridge, a narrow two-lane facility that ran parallel just to the east. It was dedicated to Sen. Phillip D. Beall Sr. This original bridge, which had been in service since June 13, 1931, was tolled and was signed as TOLL US 98 until the bridge bonds were paid off. The decommissioned original bridge served as two 1.5-mile-long fishing piers until they were largely destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pensacola_Bay_Bridge


Both of these articles are very interesting, and I would have loved to have been in attendance. It sounds like it was one kick azz party!

Before the Ceremony and Party… The Frisco Employes’ Magazine - June 1931 - Pg. 12 & 13
http://thelibrary.org/lochist/frisco/magazines/fem_1931_06/fem_1931_06_11.pdf

After the Ceremony and Party… The Frisco Employes’ Magazine - July 1931 - Pg. 1 & 2
http://thelibrary.org/lochist/frisco/magazines/fem_1931_07/fem_1931_07_06.pdf

Aviator’s View of Pensacola’s News Bridge… The Frisco Employes’ Magazine - Cover page
http://thelibrary.org/lochist/frisco/magazines/fem_1931_07/fem_1931_07_01.pdf



The existing Pensacola Bay Bridge, also known locally as the Three-Mile Bridge, opened to traffic on October 31, 1960, at which time it replaced the Thomas A. Johnson Bridge, a narrow two-lane facility that ran parallel just to the east. It was dedicated to Sen. Phillip D. Beall Sr. This original bridge, which had been in service since June 13, 1931, was tolled and was signed as TOLL US 98 until the bridge bonds were paid off.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pensacola_Bay_Bridge


Governor Collins cutting ribbon during Pensacola Bay Bridge dedication ceremony - October 31, 1960
Florida Memory Project - Governor Collins cutting ribbon during Pensacola Bay Bridge dedication ceremony

[X- Shark]

Taxes should and do pay for this.

Ah.....Lets not forget the 30?% increase 2yrs ago in car /truck/trailer/boat tags.

Now what is that used for?

[Just_Ducky]

Thanks Pat for time spent researching.
I remember going over the 3 mile with the draw before the 4 lane was built.

[FrankT]

I would pay that if it bypassed GB and the horrid traffic there. Depends where I am going in Pens, as is I cut over in Navarre and head to IH 10 to cut all that and the gracon bridge out if I can and it is as close. Terrible for folks if they work and live there, I would think if you are a county or Fl tagged vehicle there should be a .50 fee. We have this damn Mid bay bridge here and I try not to use it either!

[cml5207]

Everything is electronic nowadays! New toll here in Fourchon, La. You buy the electronic pass at a gas station miles from the bridge and stick the decal in your windshield. Electronic sensors pick it up and disable the camera. If you do not buy the pass, a picture of your license plate is taken and your ticket arrives in the mail. Sort of like the red light monitors. Whoever the car is registered to gets the ticket. No need to pay a teller anymore. All passes are bought with a credit card or debit card over here. Easy to install! Port of Fourchon receives 1,000 semi trucks a day with drilling equipment. Steady dependable income. When the bridge is paid for it will be nothing but a slush fund. Got to fill the need of politicians spending money at will. Budgets are a thing of the past. These tactics ensure constant revenue. If the businesses on the beaches fail, there will be more room for resorts. Completely sucks! Remember when we could all go to the beach and enjoy it because it was OUR backyard?

I am not a rocket scientist when it comes to toll bridges. That being said a toll would dig deep in the pockets of those who use the bridge twice a day. However, I wonder what affect it would have on the time it takes to cross the bridge particularly at peak times or major holidays or special events like the Blues. Unless they have some super high tech way to get the toll paid I can only envision traffic back up out the yang.