Okaloosa County presents West 98 Collector Road alternatives; public comment due Aug. 14, 2025

Okaloosa County project staff on Wednesday presented two design alternatives for the proposed West 98 Collector Road and a related utility corridor and asked residents to submit written comments by Aug. 14, 2025, to become part of the project record.

The project presenter, identified in the meeting as a Staff member, Okaloosa County project presenter, said the project development and environment (PD&E) study evaluates an approximately 3.25-mile Collector Road from Solar Street to Green Drive and an approximately 2-mile utility corridor from Green Drive to the Santa Rosa County line on property owned by Eglin Air Force Base. The study’s stated purposes are to provide an alternate east–west route for local and military traffic, establish a utility corridor to accommodate a future widening of U.S. 98 to six lanes, and evaluate a connection to a potential West Gate at Hurlburt Field.

The meeting put the most immediate facts up front: comments submitted in writing by Aug. 14, 2025, will be added to the public meeting record and written questions received during the comment period will be answered in…