County Road 3031 - Thomas Drive
Thomas Drive forms a 7.7 mile loop southeast from Florida 30 (Front Beach Road) and U.S. 98 at the Hathaway Bridge to coastal areas of Bay County along the Gulf of Mexico, Grand Lagoon and St. Andrew Bay. County Road 3031 follows the north-south leg, a five-lane boulevard joining U.S. 98 with the Naval Surface Warfare Center off Alligator Bayou and the Bay Point golf course community. Thomas Drive spans Grand Lagoon east of Biltmore Beach, becoming CR 392 at the westward turn toward Bellair Beach and Panama City Beach. An eastern spur of Thomas Drive links CR 392 and CR 3031 with St. Andrew State Park, located on the peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and Grand Lagoon.
County Road 3031 replaced Florida Secondary 757, which extended south from U.S. 98 to Secondary 392 at Lower Grand Lagoon.
North
The first confirming marker for County Road 3031 was posted along Thomas Drive north beyond Beach Drive. The shield was removed during 2011 expansion of Thomas Drive into a five lane boulevard.
09/23/09
Widening of Thomas Drive in 2011 included replacing the bridge across Grand Lagoon. The new four lane, 250 foot long span crosses 18 feet above Grand Lagoon.1
09/23/09
North Lagoon Drive intersects CR 3031 (Thomas Drive) on the north side of Grand Lagoon. Unmarked here, North Lagoon Drive west 3.336 miles to CR 392 (Thomas Drive) doubles as CR 3030.
09/23/09
Turning northwest from Grand Lagoon, Thomas Drive advances to the traffic light with Causeway Road west and Magnolia Beach Road east.
09/23/09
Formerly Florida Secondary 747, Magnolia Beach Road spurs 1.75 miles east to the Bay Point golf course community and Annette Avenue off St. Andrew Bay.
09/23/09
Patronis Drive spurs west to an apartment complex, subdivision and Patronis Elementary School from this signal with CR 3031 (Thomas Drive).
09/23/09
Crag Road connects County Road 3031 (Thomas Drive) with the main gate for the Naval Surface Warefare Center.
09/23/09
Laird Street stems west from the succeeding traffic light along Thomas Drive north to Laurie Avenue.
09/23/09
County Road 3031 (Thomas Drive) advances north alongside the Naval Surface Water Center to U.S. 98 by Beachwalk Centre retail plaza.
09/23/09
Thomas Drive ties into U.S. 98 just west of the Hathaway Bridge. The eastbound lanes of U.S. 98 travel above the forthcoming intersection, providing a high speed route between SR 30 (Front Beach Road) and SR 368 (23rd Street) in Panama City.
09/23/09
Replacing a narrow four lane span, the six lane Hathaway Bridge across St. Andrew Bay opened to traffic in May 2004. U.S. 98 continues east through Panama City to connect with U.S. 231 north to I-10.
09/23/09
An end shield for Bay County Road 3031 precedes the turn onto the south side frontage road for U.S. 98 and the Hathaway Bridge.
09/23/09
U.S. 98 west to Panama City Beach Parkway travels at-grade from the Hathaway Bridge to Thomas Drive. Elevated lanes for westbound traffic were planned, but construction has yet to be funded.
09/23/09
A reassurance marker for U.S. 98 east stands between CR 3031 (Thomas Drive) and Woodlawn Drive.
09/23/09
Woodlawn Drive ties into U.S. 98 and the south side frontage road from the Woodlawn subdivision. The gated Solomans Drive connects from the Naval Surface Warefare Center to the south. Two lanes otherwise continue east, taking drivers from Thomas Drive onto the Hathaway Bridge.
09/23/09
South
Bay County Road 3031 begins along Thomas Drive south from U.S. 98 and Wildwood Road.
06/20/09
County Road 3031 (Thomas Drive) crosses Grand Lagoon to the immediate south of CR 3030 (North Lagoon Drive).
09/23/09
Thomas Drive leads south to Lower Grand Lagoon, where it turns west as County Road 392.
09/23/09
County Road 392 leads Thomas Drive northwest to SR 30 (Front Beach Road) and SR 392 (Hutchison Boulevard) at Panama City Beach.
09/23/09
County Road 3031 marker posted along North Lagoon Drive ahead of Thomas Drive. This sign was removed during a stormwater project in 2011.
09/23/09
North Lagoon Drive continues west from County Road 3031 (Thomas Drive) as County Road 3030 along the north side of Grand Lagoon. Thomas Drive leads north to the Naval Surface Warfare Center and south to St. Andrews State Park.
09/23/09
References:
- CR 3031 - Thomas Dr over Grand Lagoon, Bay County, Florida. BridgeReports.com
Photo Credits:
- Alex Nitzman, Carter Buchanan: 09/23/09
- Brent Ivy: 06/20/09
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Page Updated Tuesday October 16, 2018.