State Road 79
State Road 79 provides one of three corridors linking Interstate 10 and Lower Alabama with coastal Bay County and Panama City Beach. Beginning at Front Beach Road (SR 30), SR 79 (Arnold Road) initially follows a two-lane street linking Edgewater Beach with Panama City Beach City Hall and U.S. 98 (Panama City Parkway). The highway expands into a four-lane, divided arterial and continues northward to the B.V. Buchanan Bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway at West Bay.
The rural highway passes west of Northwest Florida Beaches Airport en route to Seminole Hills and Pine Log State Forest. Crossing Pine Log Creek 14.348 miles north of Front Beach Road, SR 79 enters Washington County and the rural town of Ebro. SR 79 meets SR 20 in Ebro, which is best known for its Greyhound Park. North from there, the state road gradually shifts eastward, traveling through the settlements of Red Head and New Hope ahead of Vernon.
SR 79 follows Main Street through the Vernon city center, crossing Holmes Creek north of SR 277. SR 277 branches northeast to Chipley, while SR 79 resumes a northerly course to Bonifay in Holmes County. The state road travels 28.671 miles in Washington County.
Continuing toward the Alabama state line, SR 79 links with I-10, U.S. 90 and SR 2 along a 17.674 mile course across Holmes County. SR 79 becomes Alabama State Route 167 north from the rural town of Esto.
Multi-lane construction of SR 79 is nearly complete along the state road north from U.S. 98 (Panama City Beach Parkway) to Interstate 10. Through Washington County, construction on a four-phase project started in Fall 2014:1
- Phase A - 4.5 miles from Mill Branch Bridge to Reedy Branch Road, constructed with a rural four-lane design with a grassy median, and an urban design from south of New Hope to Reedy Branch Bridge.
- Phase B - 3.2 miles from Pate Pond Road to Cypress Creek Bridge. Work included a new bridge over Cypress Creek and expanded SR 79 with rural four-lane design standards.
- Phase C - 6.0 miles from Cypress Creek Bridge to Intestate 10. SR 79 was built with rural design standards and a new span was constructed over Open Creek.
- Phase D - 6.4 miles from Reedy Branch Bridge to Court Street in the city of Vernon. SR 79 was built with rural design standards north to Cook Circle, and as an urban style arterial between Court Street and Cook Circle. Traffic lights were added at Sapp Street.
Work on the 20.085 mile long expansion through Washington County wraps up in Fall 2020 Summer 2022. The design-build project cost $96.788 million.
Southward view of the B.V. Buchanan Bridges from a segment of Old Highway 79. Provisions were built into the 2008-crossing to accommodate future expansion of SR 79. - 06/12/2009
A portion of the original SR 79 ICWW bridge remains below the two fixed spans of the B.V. Buchanan Bridge. The northbound span is slightly shorter than its 2,700-foot long predecessor. - 06/12/2009
Four-laning of SR 79 through Bay County completed in late 2009 included construction of a second bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway. The 0.9 mile long span and a half mile of roadway cost $42.1 million to build. A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked completion of the crossing on November 5, 2008.2
The $27.2 million contract for SR 79 widening north from Steelfield Road to the Pine Log Creek Bridge was awarded in June 2007. A subsequent $9.23 milliong contract on a 2.6 mile section between the West Bay Bridge and Steelfield Road was awarded in June 2008. Work there commenced on July 21, 2008.3 Further improvements were made at the West Bay bridge and the adjacent intersection where SR 79 meets SR 388 in 2013. The $1.9 million upgrade included adding sidewalks and bike paths to the B.V. Buchanan Bridge, adding traffic lights at SR 388, and street lighting.4
North
The two legs of the wye intersection joining SR 30 (Front Beach Road) with SR 79 (South Arnold Road) northbound come together ahead of the first confirming marker.
01/16/16
North from Panama City Beach, SR 79 travels five miles to West Bay and 46 miles to the Holmes County seat of Bonifay.
06/19/11
The two lane section of SR 79 along Arnold Road leads 0.531 miles north to U.S. 98 (Panama City Beach Parkway).
06/19/11
U.S. 98 travels across the Emerald Coast east to Panama City and west to Sandestin, Destin, and Pensacola.
01/16/16
Panama City Beach Parkway (Back Beach Road) is a four to six lane arterial, generally with commercial frontage. U.S. 98 heads eight miles east to a short freeway linking with the Hathaway Bridge across St. Andrews Bay.
06/19/11
Confirming marker for SR 79 north, posted on the 0.9 mile drive from U.S. 98 to Bay Parkway.
10/13/16
Transitioning into a rural highway, SR 79 advances north from Panama City Beach to West Bay. Bonifay remains 46 miles to the north, as this distance sign stands just 0.7 miles north of the previous assembly.
10/13/16
The speed limit previously increased to 65 miles per hour as SR 79 departed from Panama City Beach. A traffic light was activated along this stretch at Bay Parkway (Philip Griffitts Sr. Parkway) on May 5, 2017.5 Philip Griffitts Sr. (formerly Bay) Parkway is a 3.4 mile long arterial bypass linking SR 79 with Pier Park Drive and U.S. 98. A $3.5 million contract for the project was approved by Panama City Beach City Council in January 2016.6 By April 2022, the entire length was transferred to FDOT, inventoried as SR 28.8
10/13/16
Further construction completed Summer 2021 extended SR 28 (Philip Griffitts Sr. Parkway east from Pier Park Drive to Nautilus Street. An agreement on March 20, 2018 between the Bay County Commission and Panama City Beach officials provided $3.5 million in funds for the project.6
10/13/16
The community of West Bay lies along SR 79 at the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, just off West Bay. Side Camp Road east and School Lane west intersect the state road here.
10/13/16
SR 79 proceeds one mile north across the Intracoastal Waterway to SR 388 east for Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP).
10/13/16
Reassurance marker preceding the B.V. Buchanan Bridge taking SR 79 over the Intracoastal Waterway.
10/13/16
08/03/08
The B.V. Buchanan Bridge was twinned during four lane expansion of SR 79 between 2007 and 2009. The southbound span dates back to 1993.
06/19/11
10/13/16
With increased traffic headed to Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), and eventual four lane expansion of SR 388, signals were installed at SR 79 and SR 388 in 2012.
10/13/16
The passenger terminal for ECP Airport lies 6.5 miles to the northeast via SR 388 and West Bay Parkway. Commercial flights at the airport began on May 22, 2010.
10/13/16
Bay County Road 388 east to SR 77 was upgraded to State Road 388 in July 2013. The FDOT transfer allowed plans to proceed on four-laning the entire 12.3 mile highway.
10/13/16
The town of Ebro is the next population center along SR 79, located ten miles north of West Bay.
06/19/11
Widening of SR 388 anticipated for construction in 2020 includes building a new terrain alignment for the four lane highway, from West Bay Parkway to a point 1.25 miles north of the current intersection with SR 79.
06/19/11
A handful of residential streets tie into SR 79 ahead of Steel Field Road and this reassurance marker. The four lane highway briefly switches to urban design with curbing and sidewalks through the rural community.
06/19/11
Northbound SR 79 enters Pine Log State Forest ahead of CR 2296 (Pine Log Road).
06/19/11
CR 2296 (Pine Log Road) navigates westward 4.43 miles through timberland, much of which is owned by the St. Joe Land & Development Company, to Otter Creek Bridge Road.
06/19/11
Continuing north from CR 2296, SR 79 traverses areas of Pine Log State Forest through the Seminole Hills area.
06/19/11
Winding through an S-curve across Pine Log Creek, SR 79 crosses the Washington County line.
06/19/11
Advancing 1.75 miles north from the county line, SR 79 intersects SR 20 in the town of Ebro.
06/19/11
Northbound SR 79 at SR 20 west to Bruce (SR 81) and east to Clarksville (SR 73). The western stand alone section of SR 20 extends 147 miles overall from Niceville and east to Tallahassee. The state road overlays U.S. 27 east from Tallahassee to High Springs.
06/19/11
South
Heading south from SR 20 along SR 79 within the town of Ebro. The municipal complex lies along the east side of the state road here.
07/03/09
SR 79 spans Pine Log Creek into Bay County. A new northbound bridge for SR 79 was construction during four lane expansion in 2008.
08/03/08
Four-laning of SR 79 south from Pine Log State Forest added a new southbound roadway and rebuild the existing roadway for northbound traffic. The state road intersects CR 2296 (Pine Log Road) west near Seminole Hills.
08/03/08
County Road 2296 (Pine Log Road) spurs 4.43 miles west to Otter Creek Bridge Road.
08/03/08
Steelfield Road meets SR 79 at Woodville, south of the 2008-widening project. Steelfield Road stems west to the Bay County Solid Waste landfill and Point Washington Wildlife Management Area.
08/03/08
SR 79 south enters West Bay ahead of SR 388 east to Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) and the B.V. Buchanan Bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway.
08/03/08
CR 388 was transferred to state maintenance in July 2013 and reassigned as SR 388. The state road skims northern reaches of West Bay east 12.3 miles to SR 77 at Vicksburg.
08/03/08
The fixed, high-level span across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and the adjacent park and boat ramp below, honor B.V. Buchanan. Buchanan was Bay County Commissioner between 1953-55.
08/03/08
Completed in 1993, the southbound span across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway carried two-way traffic until November 2008, when the companion span open for northbound SR 79.
08/03/08
School Drive and Side Camp Road intersect SR 79 south of the B.V. Buchanan Bridge at West Bay.
08/03/08
Speed limits resume at 65 miles per hour along SR 79 south from School Drive to the Panama City Beach line.
08/03/08
FDOT recorded 13,800 vehicles per day (vpd) along SR 79 south between School Drive and U.S. 98 in Panama City Beach in 2017.
08/03/08
Approaching U.S. 98 (Panama City Beach Parkway) on SR 79 (Arnold Road) south. U.S. 98, previously known as Back Beach Road, comprises a heavily traveled six lane arterial throughout Panama City Beach and unincorporated areas to the west.
10/16/11
Panama City Beach Parkway was originally built as a bypass for U.S. 98 around coastal areas of Bay County. The US highway travels along the Emerald Coast from Panama City west to Sandestin, Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Gulf Breeze.
08/03/08
SR 79 (South Arnold Road) reduces to two overall lanes between U.S. 98 and SR 30 (Front Beach Road).
10/16/11
SR 79 proceeds 0.4 miles south from U.S. 98 to separate at a wye-intersection for SR 30 (Front Beach Road).
10/16/11
Traffic partitions for SR 30 (Front Beach Road) west to Laguna Beach, Santa Monica and Sunnyside and east through the heart of Panama City Beach. SR 30 is a discontinuous route, with county and city maintained sections.
10/16/11
Following the eastern leg of the wye intersection along SR 79 at SR 30 (Front Beach Road) and Edgewater Beach.
10/16/11
References:
- State Road 79 - Phase D - Public Information Meeting handout. Florida Department of Transportation (District 3).
- "West Bay bridge complete." News Herald, The (Panama City, FL), November 28, 2008.
- "On the open road: State 79 widening project shifting lanes." News Herald, The (Panama City, FL), June 19, 2008.
- "Improvements coming to West Bay bridge corridor." News Herald, The (Panama City, FL), September 11, 2012.
- "New Traffic Signal at SR79 & Bay Pkwy Activation." WMBB (Panama City Beach, FL), May 4, 2017.
- "City council names "Loop Road" concept as "Bay Parkway"." WJHG TV-7 (Panama City Beach, FL), May 12, 2016.
- "The road eventually might be extended even farther eastward, perhaps to Cauley Avenue" News Herald, The (Panama City, FL), March 20, 2018.
- Straight Line Diagram (SR 28), Florida Department of Transportation.
Photo Credits:
- ABRoads: 01/16/16
- Brent Ivy: 07/03/09, 06/19/11
- Alex Nitzman: 08/03/08, 10/16/11, 10/13/16
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Page Updated Wednesday August 22, 2018.