Santa Rosa County commissioners have approved a $385,000 task order as a first step toward repairing or potentially replacing the aging Navarre Beach Bridge, which links mainland Santa Rosa County to Santa Rosa Island.
Navarre Beach, located across the bridge, is a popular tourist destination and home to about 2,000 residences, including condos and townhomes, along with numerous businesses that rely on bridge access.
As of 2021, the bridge saw an average of 13,500 vehicles daily—a number that likely climbs during peak tourist months.
Built in the 1960s, the Navarre Bridge is now classified as functionally obsolete, meaning it remains safe to use but falls short of modern standards for traffic flow and accessibility. Over the decades, it has endured several major hurricanes, including Erin, Opal, Georges, Ivan, Dennis and Sally—all of which have contributed to the deterioration of the structure.
The $385,000 funding covers the design of a tolling system and a rate study to help determine appropriate toll prices. Specific cost estimates for bridge repairs or replacement have not yet been released.
Santa Rosa County Engineer Rebecca Jones said implementing a toll is critical to securing future state and federal assistance.
About 25 miles away, the Mid-Bay Bridge and Spence Parkway, which connect Niceville to Destin, operate on a toll system that brought in approximately $29.4 million in Fiscal Year 2022. The current toll for passenger vehicles is $4, with a $1 discount for SunPass users. That revenue supports the bridges’ operating expenses, ongoing maintenance and debt repayment from past infrastructure projects.
The Navarre Bridge currently handles about 60% as much traffic as the nearby Mid-Bay Bridge.
Jones emphasized that a similar approach for Navarre is not just about funding but about sustainability.
Despite public criticism on social media about the cost of the study, county officials say it’s a necessary investment to support long-term infrastructure planning.
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