Florida @ SouthEastRoads - U.S. Highway 98 Westbound (Bay County)

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U.S. Highway 98 Westbound (Bay County)

U.S. 98 West

Gulf County 386 stems north from U.S. 98 at the Bay County line to Overstreet, Early, and junction Florida 71 south of Wewahitchka. Photo taken 07/31/06.

U.S. 98 crosses into Bay County at Mexico Beach and the boundary between Eastern and Central Time Zone. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Westbound reassurance shield posted after Gulf County 386. U.S. 98 travels a slow moving two-lane roadway through Mexico Beach. Photo taken 07/31/06.

The drive in southeastern Bay County hugs the Gulf of Mexico coastline initially. Photo taken 07/31/06.

The largest building within Mexico Beach is the El Governor Motel. The city otherwise consists of a narrow street grid mainly along the coast. Photo taken 07/31/06.

A short distance west of Mexico Beach is the entrance to Tyndall Air Force Base. U.S. 98 remains with two lanes through vast forest and wetlands through the installation. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Illinois Avenue provides the access to the Main Gate of Tyndall Air Force Base. Tyndall Drive ties in from the north, serving the main operations of the base. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Sabre Drive provides access to northwest reaches of Tyndall AFB including Wood Manor Housing, the Youth Center, the Marina and Golf Course, among other points of interest. The Pass and Visitor Center of the base resides on the northeast corner of U.S. 98 and Sabre Drive. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Sabre Drive travels west to Redfish Point Road from U.S. 98. Motorists turning west must stop at the Sabre Gate, the second public access point to Tyndall A.F.B. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Nearing the DuPont Bridge over St. Andrew Bay, the westbound exit of Tyndall Air Force Base. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Two segments of the 1929-DuPont Bridge remain in place east of the 1965-completed U.S. 98 bridge. These structures act as fishing piers. Photos taken 07/31/06.

U.S. 98 ascends over the four-lane DuPont Bridge over St. Andrew Bay. The span is typical of 1960s-era construction practices in Florida with concrete guard rails and no shoulders. Tyndall Parkway enters the city of Parker adjacent to Long Point. Photos taken 07/31/06.

Ivy Road heads east from U.S. 98 (Tyndall Parkway) to East Lake in adjacent Callaway. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Old style U.S. 98 business signs that were posted ahead of the U.S. 98 split with its business loop through Parker. U.S. 98B meanders northwest to Springfield into downtown Panama City on a slow moving route south of the U.S. 98 mainline. Photo taken 07/31/06.

U.S. 98 (Tyndall Parkway) veers north from the split with U.S. 98 Business along the Parker and Callaway city line. U.S. 98 Business turns west toward Parker city hall and Martin Bayou. Photo taken 07/31/06.

The westbound split of U.S. 98 (Tyndall Parkway) with U.S. 98 Business. Florida 30 follows the business loop while U.S. 98 carries the hidden designation of Florida 30A. Interests to Cedar Grove should continue north along Tyndall Parkway. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Continuing north along the Parker and Callaway city line on U.S. 98 (Tyndall Parkway). Photo taken 07/31/06.

Boat Race Road provides a second opportunity to U.S. 98 Business west. The road continues east to Berthe Avenue and Bay County 2323. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Another U.S. 98 shield posted along Tyndall Parkway north after Boat Race Road. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Hickory Street crosses U.S. 98 (Tyndall Parkway) at this traffic light. The local road stems west to Martin Bayou and east to Bert Fox Pond. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Cherry Street leads west from U.S. 98 along the Parker and Callaway City line into Springfield at Martin Bayou. Eastward, Cherry Street meets the south end of Bay County 2323 (Berthe Avenue) before ending at Bay County 2315 (Star Avenue). Photo taken 07/31/06.

U.S. 98 enters Callaway wholly north of Cherry Street. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Next in line along Tyndall Parkway north is the junction with Florida 22 (Wewa Highway). Photo taken 07/31/06.

Florida 22 joins Panama City with Wewahitchka and junction Florida 71 in Gulf County. The state road continues east from Callaway to East Bay. Photo taken 07/31/06.

West of U.S. 98, Florida 22 (Wewa Highway) spans Martin Bayou into Springfield, ending at U.S. 98 via East 3rd Street. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Tyndall Parkway resembles a commercial arterial more than a tree lined boulevard as it continues north through Callaway. A U.S. 98 shield and mileage sign lie north of Florida 22. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Bay County 28 (East 11th Street) begins from U.S. 98 (Tyndall Parkway) at the Callaway and Springfield city line. Photo taken 07/31/06.

11th Street carries all of Bay County 28 between U.S. 98 and U.S. 98 Business (Beck Avenue) through Springfield, Cedar Grove, and Panama City. Photo taken 07/31/06.

U.S. 98 leaves Tyndall Parkway in name at the intersection with Tram Road north of the Springfield city line. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Now facing west, U.S. 98 (East 15th Street) approaches Bay County 2327 (Transmitter Road). Photo taken 07/31/06.

Bay County 2327 travels north to U.S. 231 and Bay County 390 in Cedar Grove and south to Florida 22 (East 3rd Street) in Springfield. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Continuing west from Bay County 2327 toward the Cedar Grove city line. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Florida 389 (East Avenue) crosses U.S. 98 (East 15th Street) within Cedar Grove. The state road travels south to U.S. 98 Business in Springfield. Photo taken 07/31/06.

U.S. 98 west at Florida 389, Florida 389 (East Avenue) heads north 1.75 miles to U.S. 231 and junction Bay County 389 at Hiland Park in Cedar Grove. Photo taken 07/31/06.

One half mile further west is the junction with Bay County 2337 (Sherman Avenue). Bay County 2337 follows Sherman Avenue south 1.25 miles to U.S. 98 Business (East 5th Street) in Panama City. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Bay County 2337 does not officially continue north of U.S. 98 on Sherman Avenue. This leaves the street to travel solo to Florida 389 in Cedar Grove. Photo taken 07/31/06.

U.S. 98 (East 15th Street) enters Panama City west of Redwood Avenue. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Florida 77, one of three routes leading north from Bay County to Interstate 10, meets U.S. 98 via Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard next. Photo taken 07/31/06.

A second junction shield posted for Florida 77 on U.S. 98 (East 15th Street) west. Florida 77 consists of a four lane highway north from U.S. 98 Business in Panama City to the Washington County line. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Entering the busy intersection with Florida 77 (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) on U.S. 98 (East 15th Street) west. The state road joins Panama City with Lynn Haven before crossing North Bay. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Westbound reassurance shield posted after Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard. Photo taken 07/31/06.

U.S. 231 enters the scene from Cedar Grove and Youngstown to the northeast, turning southward onto Harrison Avenue toward historic downtown Panama City. Photo taken 07/31/06.

U.S. 231 provides the main route to Interstate 10 and Dothan, Alabama for tourists and hurricane evacuation from the beaches of Bay County. The highway carries four overall lanes into southeast Alabama. Photo taken 07/31/06.

An almost five-way intersection is created in the wake of U.S. 231's turn onto Harrison Avenue just north of U.S. 98. The four-lane roadway that U.S. 231 takes from Cedar Grove directly merges into U.S. 98 west of the Harrison Avenue intersection. Further complicating things is the presence of the Bay Line Railroad crossing. Photo taken 07/31/06.

A closer look at what was/is probably the last set of yellow U.S. 231 shields posted in the field. A companion set was posted over U.S. 98 east ahead of Harrison Avenue. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Continuing west from the confluence with U.S. 231 and Harrison Avenue. Photo taken 07/31/06.

U.S. 98 west at Florida Avenue; Florida Avenue leads south to Bay County 28 (11th Street) at Jenks Middle School. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Westbound U.S. 98 (West 15th Street) after the intersection with Balboa Avenue. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Lisenby Avenue intersects U.S. 98 (West 15th Street) at a pair of shopping centers in west Panama City. Bay County 327 (unsigned here) leads north along Lisenby Avenue to junction Florida 327 and 368 (West 23rd Street). Photo taken 07/31/06.

Traffic congestion continues along U.S. 98 (west 15th Street) west to junction Bay County 385 (Frankford Avenue) Bay County 385 follows Frankford Avenue south to U.S. 98 Business (West 9th Street) and north to Robinson Bayou. Photo taken 07/31/06.

U.S. 98 veers northwest from West 15th Street to West 18th Street between Drake and Deer Avenue near the St. Andrews community of the city. U.S. 98 Business returns to U.S. 98 via Beck Avenue north from St. Andrews. Photo taken 07/31/06.

West 16th Street facilitates the movements to U.S. 98 Business (Beck Avenue) east from U.S. 98 west. U.S. 98B meanders along St. Andrews Bay from St. Andrews to downtown. Note the old style sign assembly. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Florida 390 stems north from U.S. 98 Business' end along Beck Avenue to junction Florida 368 (West 23rd Street) at St. Andrews Boulevard. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Florida 390 joins west Panama City with Panama City Bay County International Airport and Lynn Haven. The state road travels 5.8 miles between U.S. 98 (West 18th Street) and Florida 77 (Ohio Avenue). Photo taken 07/31/06.

Continuing northwest along U.S. 98 between Florida 390 and Deer Avenue. Photo taken 07/31/06.

The final state road junction within Panama City is that of the west end of Florida 368 (West 23rd Street). Florida 368 serves Gulf Coast Community College and the Panama City campus of Florida State University nearby. The state road provides a four-lane route east to U.S. 231 as well. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Florida 368 presently begins at an at-grade intersection with U.S. 98 north of the Port of Panama City. An interchange, unfunded at this time, is planned to replace the traffic light and usher a high-speed connection west to the Hathaway Bridge. Photo taken 07/31/06.

D Avenue and College Drive meet U.S. 98 north of the Port of Panama City and south of GCCC. The signalized intersection will be bypassed with a new viaduct in conjunction with the West 23rd Street interchange. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Approaching the Hathaway Bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway that links West Bay and St. Andrew Bay on U.S. 98 west. Opened in 2004, the Hathaway Bridge replaced the original 1960 span. Photos taken 07/31/06.

The twin spans carries six overall lanes with the capacity for eight-lanes with the restriping of the outside shoulders. Eventually the Hathaway will support four 12' travel lanes in addition to its 10' inside and outside shoulders, and 8' pedestrian/bicycle lanes on each side. The $82.5 million 3800 foot bridge opened to traffic in May 2004 after four years of construction. The 1960 bridge consisted of a 62' foot wide span with four overall lanes and no shoulders.¹ Photos taken 07/31/06.

U.S. 98 descends to an at-grade boulevard alongside a new eastbound freeway viaduct. A westbound viaduct is to be built in conjunction with ramps to Thomas Drive (Bay County 3031), missing from the eastbound interchange. These project elements remain unfunded at the present time however (2008). Photos taken 07/31/06.

Woodlawn Drive and the entrance to Naval Coastal Systems Center (main gate) meet U.S. 98 west in the shadow of the eastbound viaduct. Photos taken 07/31/06.

The eastbound viaduct begins before the merge with Front Beach Road (Florida 30) east. Photos taken 07/31/06.

Wildwood Road north and Bay County 3031 (Thomas Drive) south depart from the next U.S. 98 westbound intersection. Wildwood Road serves an area of growing sprawl while Thomas Drive straddles the Naval Coastal Systems Center en route to the Grand Lagoon area. Photos taken 07/31/06.

Nearing the split with Florida 30 (Front Beach Road, the former routing of U.S. 98 Alternate through coastal Panama City Beach. U.S. 98 Alternate was decommissioned in 2006, yet many shields remained along the route in 2008. Photos taken 07/31/06.

A simple roadway split now facilitates movements to Front Beach Road from U.S. 98 (Panama City Beach Parkway) west. This view looks at the temp roadway connection via what is now the eastbound ramp to Florida 30 west. Photos taken 07/31/06.

There are several connecting roadways between U.S. 98 (Panama City Beach Parkway) and Florida 30 (Front Beach Road). Cauley Avenue and Moylan Road provide the first two, followed by Beckrich Road (unsigned Bay County 3033). Photos taken 07/31/06.

Bay County 3033 follows Beckrich Road south to Florida 392 (Hutchinson Road) and Florida 30 (Front Beach) road in the condo tower area of Panama City Beach. Beckrich Road continues north into areas of planned sprawl. Photos taken 07/31/06.

Alf Coleman Road (unsigned Bay County 30H) constitutes "Exit D", or the fourth beach access point between U.S. 98 and Florida 30 (Front Beach Road). Alf Coleman Road meets Front Beach Road near M.B. Miller Pier to the southwest and ends at J.R. Arnold High School to the northeast. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Pier Park Road represents a fairly new road joining U.S. 98 (Panama City Beach Parkway) with the Pier Park shopping village south of the four-lane divided highway. The road ties into Florida 30 at Dan Russell City Pier and spurs north into new residential development to the north. Photo taken 07/31/06.

0.75 miles west of Pier Park Road is junction Florida 79 (Arnold Road). Florida 79 begins at Florida 30 (Front Beach Road) and travels north to U.S. 98 at Panama City Beach City Hall. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Florida 79 provides the third route north to the Interstate 10 corridor from the Bay County beaches. Much of the road is four-laned or will be four-laned between U.S. 98 and Florida 20 at Ebro. The state highway spans the Intracoastal Waterway at West Bay en route to Washington County. Photo taken 07/31/06.

U.S. 98 (Panama City Beach Parkway) continues toward West Panama City Beach from Florida 79 (Arnold Road). Photo taken 07/31/06.

Entering Laguna Beach, an unincorporated area of Bay County near Wisteria Lane (former Bay County 3037) on U.S. 98 west. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Wisteria Lane provides a short connector between U.S. 98 (Panama City Beach Parkway) and Florida 30 (Front Beach Road) at Laguna Beach. The route constitutes "Exit L" and despite signage for Bay County 3037, is not officially recognized by FDOT as a county road. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Former U.S. 98 Alternate (Front Beach Road) returns to U.S. 98 (Panama City Beach Parkway) near Hollywood Beach in western Bay County. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Front Beach Road provides the last public road leading toward the Gulf of Mexico Beaches in western Bay County. The community of Carillon Beach next is gated. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Florida 30 (Front Beach Road) begins its eastern trek to Panama City Beach from U.S. 98 west. Florida 30A (unsigned) ends and Florida 30 continues west along U.S. 98 toward Powell Lake. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Curving north toward Powell Lake and Phillips Inlet along U.S. 98 west. Destin lies 35 miles ahead. Photo taken 07/31/06.

A pair of two lane bridges span Powell Lake north of Phillips Inlet. U.S. 98 enters Camp Helen State Park at the bridge's west end. Photos taken 07/31/06.

Looking south at condominiums at Carillon Beach south of Phillips Inlet. Phillips Inlet does not open into the Gulf of Mexico with a navigable channel. Photos taken 07/31/06.

Entering Walton County and leaving Camp Helen State Park on U.S. 98 westbound. Development once again ensues as the federal highway follows Emerald Coast Parkway through Inlet Beach. Photo taken 07/31/06.

Page Updated August 17, 2008.