🚦 Safety Upgrade: FDOT will make First Street at Beal Parkway a right-turn-only exit to reduce high crash rates.
📊 Crash Data: Between 2017–2022, 35 crashes occurred at the intersection, 80% involving right-angle collisions.
💰 City Funding: Fort Walton Beach will cover $12,000 in installation costs from its half-cent sales tax fund.
FORT WALTON BEACH — Fort Walton Beach officials have approved a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) safety measure aimed at reducing crashes at one of the city’s most hazardous intersections.
On Tuesday, the Fort Walton Beach City Council voted unanimously to support FDOT’s plan to make First Street at Beal Parkway a right-turn-only exit for vehicles entering the state road, following years of crash data showing the location is a persistent safety problem.
According to a 2022 study supplied by the city in the agenda packet, FDOT found 35 crashes between 2017 and 2022, with 80% involving right-angle collisions. Nine of those crashes resulted in injuries, and one involved a bicyclist. Six of the crashes were so-called “Good Samaritan” incidents, in which drivers on Beal stopped to let vehicles from First Street enter — creating conflicts with other through traffic.
Police Chief Robert Bage told the council that the crash trend has only worsened.
“In June, there were nine traffic crashes at that single location, which was 10% of all the traffic crashes within the city of Fort Walton Beach,” Bage said. “Year to date, there’ve been 18 traffic crashes at First and Beal. Anytime an intersection has more than five traffic crashes, it’s considered a hazardous intersection.”
The FDOT study recommended a full traffic signal with protected left-turn phasing, but the agency has not identified funding or a timeline for the project.
FDOT’s interim plan calls for limiting vehicles exiting First Street to right turns only onto Beal Parkway, while still allowing left turns from Beal onto First. Flexible barrier devices and signage would be installed to prevent straight-through movements until a signal can be funded.
Bage said FDOT will handle permitting and transportation logistics during installation, but the city will cover the estimated $12,000 construction cost, which will come from its half-cent sales tax fund.
Councilwoman Debi Riley clarified that the measure does not fund a traffic light.
“This is funding the signage and the flexible barriers that are very similar to the ones that you see currently on Perry Avenue,” Bage explained.
Councilwoman Gloria DeBerry, who made the motion to approve the resolution, said she’s experienced the intersection’s dangers firsthand.
“I’m one of the offenders that crossed Beal Parkway from First Street, but I watched Highway 98 very, very carefully,” she said. “Fortunately, I haven’t been hit yet, but I look forward [to the improvements].”
Councilman Bryce Jeter, who seconded the motion, praised city staff for working with FDOT on a quicker fix. “Anytime we can make our roads safer and save our time and resources responding to that many crashes, it’s a no-brainer,” he said.
The resolution passed without opposition.
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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