Council approves resurfacing work, asks staff to study restriping and bike‑lane options for Airport Road

The Destin City Council approved resurfacing work and also asked staff to return with a striping and design plan that could incorporate bike lanes or narrower travel lanes on collector streets such as Airport Road.

Council members pulled two resurfacing items for discussion and voted 6‑0 to move the projects forward while directing staff to include a corridor striping plan and to explore county partnership for funding. Staff said the city has roughly $1.2 million remaining in the FY25 resurfacing budget and that combined projects will cost about $1.0 million; they explained that some sections will require milling and that contractor records from past jobs show variable asphalt depths.

Council discussion focused on safety and the opportunity to add low‑cost redesigns while the city resurfaces. Several council members recommended visual narrowing (colored bike lanes or painted shoulders, shrubbery between sidewalks and roads) to reduce vehicle speeds without full reconstruction. Staff noted lane widths on Airport Road and said striping changes could be made without rebuilding curbs or surfaces.

Council directed staff to proceed with the resurfacing work planned for the identified sections (items 3(c) and 3(d) on the consent agenda), prepare a striping/design manual with recommended lane widths and bicycle/shoulder treatments, and pursue discussions with Okaloosa County about potential partnership or funding to extend work to adjacent sections. The council also confirmed work would be scheduled after Labor Day to reduce peak‑season impacts.

The motion to proceed with resurfacing and to return with striping options passed unanimously. Staff said they will check utilities and stormwater plans to avoid trenching after new pavement is placed and will report back with designs and any recommended striping materials (paint versus colored surfacing).