Walton Commissioners Accept Engineering Report

Walton County, FL, 08/12/26 – At Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC), the Board received the second quarter report from the County’s Engineering Department, led by Director Chance Powell. This quarter, the team is managing over 70 projects approved by the BCC.

The report covered the recent E-bike workshop and online survey, conducted to gather community input on potential e-bike regulations. The report evaluated feedback from workshop participants and 457 survey responses, identifying common concerns related to enforcement, underage riders, high-powered e-moto style bikes, and safety. Based on public input, staff developed recommendations for future consideration by the Commissioners, including public education, continued coordination with law enforcement, and evaluation of regulations addressing high-powered e-moto style vehicles.   

The Engineering Department also completed a County-Wide Intersection Crash Evaluation to identify intersections with the highest crash frequencies and injury severities throughout Walton County. Using five years of crash data from Florida's Signal Four Analytics system, staff analyzed nearly 500 crash reports and developed separate rankings for state-maintained and county-maintained intersections. The report identifies current and planned safety improvement projects and identifies locations that may warrant additional evaluation to help prioritize future transportation safety initiatives. 

One of the projects the Engineering Department focused on during the second quarter was County Road 393 North drainage improvements. Located in south Walton County, the project provided roadway reconstruction, a new six-foot sidewalk, improved stormwater drainage infrastructure, and intersection modifications at U.S. 98. These improvements increase pedestrian accessibility and improved drainage performance.

 State Road 20 is another heavily traveled corridor in Walton County. It intersects with County Road 83A (West Bay Loop), which provides access to numerous residential communities. The completed project included construction of a northbound right-turn lane on the minor approach, extension of the eastbound right-turn lane on the major approach, relocation of the existing multi-use path, associated drainage improvements, and traffic signal installation with pedestrian features.

One significant project is the new Eagle Springs Golf Course Maintenance Building in DeFuniak Springs. This project includes construction of a new 9,600 SF pre-engineered metal building, associated utilities, lift station, parking for use by maintenance staff and storage of golf course maintenance equipment. Additional improvements consist of constructing a paved roadway from Live Oak

Road (east of maintenance building) over to the proposed maintenance building and the associated stormwater management facility.

The Beaver Dam Park improvements project is a complete rehabilitation and reopening of a park that has been closed for several years. Improvements include a new paved parking area, stormwater facilities, a restroom with connecting sidewalks, covered picnic pavilions, a fishing pier, playground improvements, and renovations to two existing picnic pavilions.

Several important construction projects are currently underway. These include 

Ghentsville Dock, 13 Street roadway and drainage improvements, Driftwood and Ellis stormwater, roadway, and pedestrian facilities, phase one of CR 30A Bike Path improvements, phase two of the South Walton Multi-Use Trail Project (Mack Bayou), as well as a new South Walton Dog Park restroom and CR 393 S northbound right-turn lane.

The Nellie Drive Extension consists of a roadway extension adjacent to 2038 US 98 (Publix Super Market at South Walton) in Walton County, Florida and involves extending the existing Nellie Drive approximately one mile south of Chat Holley Road to U.S. 98. Construction is expected to progress through 2026 following the most recent ground-breaking.

Extending off US 98, construction is underway on CR 395 North, which includes a 10-foot-wide asphalt multi-use path, roadway reconstruction and resurfacing, drainage improvements, a timber retaining wall, updated signage, and new crosswalks.

 The planned South Walton Senior Community Center currently under design is to be constructed across from the South Walton Courthouse Annex, just off US 331 S. The latest conceptual plan proposed features nearly 8,000 square feet of flexible recreational space, including two multi-purpose rooms, an art room, game room, library, coffee space, and outdoor gathering areas.

Engineering has also been involved with the Mossy Head Industrial Park additional access road and intersection improvements. This quarter, the County issued a Notice to Proceed and this project includes survey, design, and permitting for a new access road to the Northwest Florida Commerce Park in Mossy Head,

along with intersection improvements at the proposed US 90 connection and a railroad crossing over the existing Florida Gulf and Atlantic Railroad easement located south of US 90.

Engineering continues to work on current and upcoming capital projects to aid the county and residents alike with vital infrastructure designed to accommodate future needs.

For more information, contact Walton County Engineering at (850) 892-8108.

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