Florida State Road 397 exists in two portions to provide access to Eglin Air Force Base from State Road 85 in southern Okaloosa County. The northern segment consists of a four-lane arterial for 2.16 miles along John Sims Parkway through Valpairso. The southern segment extends Eglin Parkway northeast 0.90 miles from SR 85 to the West Gate of Eglin A.F.B.
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| SR 397 begins and continues Eglin Parkway northeast from SR 85 to the West Gate into Eglin Air Force Base. Pictured here is the first reassurance marker posted within the wye interchange at SR 85. 02/13/10 |
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| SR 397 (Eglin Parkway) approaches the north end of SR 189 (Lewis Turner Boulevard) before entering Eglin Air Force Base grounds. 02/13/10 |
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| Trailblazers to SR 85 take place of SR 189 shields ahead of the Eglin Parkway intersection with Lewis Turner Boulevard. State Road 189 loops west 10.52 miles from SR 397 and 85 to Wright before turning eastward along Beal Parkway to Fort Walton Beach. 02/13/10 |
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| The left turn onto Lewis Turner Boulevard is the last departure point for the general public from SR 397. State Road 397's southern segment ends officially at the entrance to Eglin. 02/13/10 |
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| SR 397 begins at John Sims Parkway and Louisiana Avenue, just north of the East Gate to Eglin Air Force Base. The four lane divided highway intersects Carolina Avenue ahead of Addie R. Lewis Middle School in this scene nearby. 02/13/10 |
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| Spanning Toms Bayou along SR 397 (John Sims Parkway) northbound in Valparaiso. Two bridges, built in 1954 and 1962, carry motorists over the brackish waters. 02/13/10 |
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| 1.4 miles north of the East Gate to Eglin, drivers along SR 397 approach the east end of SR 190 (Valparaiso Parkway). SR 190 connects John Sims Parkway with SR 85 southwest to Fort Walton Beach and Hurlburt Field. 02/13/10 |
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| A left turn takes drivers onto SR 190, a 1.13 mile two lane roadway (Valparaiso Parkway), linking SR 397 and 85. 02/13/10 |
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| Distance signs are typically placed after a state road intersection with another state road. SR 397 continues north a short distance to SR 85 in the city of Niceville. 02/13/10 |
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| A traffic light operates along SR 397 (John Sims Parkway) at Edge Avenue within the city of Valparaiso. Edge Avenue comprises a residential street in both directions from the signal. 04/08/11 |
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| SR 397 exits Valparaiso for the Niceville city limits beyond the intersection with Mansfield Avenue. 02/13/10 |
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| Curving around the periphery of Boggy Bayou, SR 397 approaches a commercialized intersection with SR 85 (Government Avenue south / John Sims Parkway north). 02/13/10 |
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| SR 397 ends at SR 85, with State Road 85 overtaking the four lane parkway northeast to SR 20 east. SR 85 provides the main route south to Fort Walton Beach from Niceville and north to Crestview and Laurel Hill. 02/13/10 |
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| SR 397 continues John Sims Parkway southeast from State Road 85 into Valparaiso and Eglin Air Force Base. 05/13/12 |
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| Just 0.2 miles south of its beginning, SR 397 enters the city limits of Valparaiso. The community was home to 5,807 residents as of the 2010 census. 05/13/12 |
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| The lone traffic light along the northern segment of SR 397 (John Sims Parkway) is at Edge Avenue, a residential through road connecting the arterial with the adjacent street network. 05/13/12 |
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| Curving southward, SR 397 advances to the east end of SR 190. SR 190 runs between John Sims Parkway and SR 85 outside the Valparaiso city limits. College Boulevard, to the north, once was a part of County Road 190. 05/13/12 |
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| SR 190 follows Valparaiso Parkway west from State Road 397 to city hall, Valparaiso Elementary school and SR 85. An older section of State Road 190 is the service road behind businesses along the west side of John Sims Parkway. 05/13/12 |
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| Reassurance marker posted for SR 397 south along John Sims Parkway after the intersection with SR 190 (Valparaiso Parkway) west in Valparaiso. 02/13/10 |
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| Lowering to cross Toms Bayou on the four lane divided John Sims Parkway. 02/13/10 |
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| The northern segment of SR 397 concludes at the East Gate of Eglin Air Force Base. Non base-bound traffic must turn around at Louisiana Avenue as State Road 397 (John Sims Parkway) transitions into Eglin Boulevard south. 02/13/10 |
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| Leaving the signalized intersection with SR 189 south and Pinchot Road, SR 397 commences Eglin Parkway from the West Gate of Eglin Air Force Base to a veterans administration building and a wye interchange with SR 85 south. 05/13/12 |
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| Beyond the SR 85 northbound overpass, SR 397 southbound converges with the outside lanes of SR 85 south. SR 85 continues Eglin Parkway to Shalimar, Fort Walton Beach and Cinco Bayou. 05/13/12 |
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| SR 397 concludes as SR 85 turns southwesterly at Sunset Lane (former SR 85B). State Road 85 concludes in 5.6 miles at U.S. 98 (Miracle Strip Parkway) in Downtown Fort Walton Beach. 05/13/12 |
Page Updated 05-17-2012.
North - Southern Segment
