🛣️ 52 miles of dirt roads set for asphalt capping
💰 $5 million allocation approved for project completion
✅ Nearly 200 miles already stabilized, surpassing original goal
CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a $5 million allocation to finish capping the remaining stabilized dirt roads in the county’s long-running “50 in 5” road improvement initiative, a project officials say has far exceeded its original expectations.
Public Works Director Scott Bitterman noted the department’s multi-year effort to convert county-maintained dirt roads into safer, more durable paved corridors. He then turned the floor over to Road Division Chief Rob Vandenbrock, who has overseen much of the on-the-ground implementation.
“We’ve stabilized 200 miles, and about 148 of those miles have been capped,” said Vandenbrock. “This $5 million asked here is to cap the remaining 52, and we’ll be out of the quasi dirt business.”
Commissioners praised the project’s success, which began as an effort by then-Commissioner Nathan Boyles to stabilize 50 miles of dirt roads in five years.
Instead, crews identified and stabilized roughly 200 miles, and 148 miles have already been capped with asphalt. The work is designed to improve safety, reduce erosion and cut recurring maintenance costs.
Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel expressed enthusiasm for the project’s impact.
“I feel like we should name this the ‘Nathan Boyles Amendment’…he really championed this. So I’m very excited about it,” Ketchel said.
Chairman Paul Mixon noted that the county still has unresolved obligations.
“There’s about eight miles left on top of this,” Mixon said. “I can’t sit today and say we’re finished, knowing that we have that just over eight miles remaining that is going to get us to genuine completion of roads that are ours… We’re to the point now where we’ve come too far to stop that short.”
Mixon emphasized that hundreds of residents still live along the remaining dirt sections and urged the county to address them even after the current stabilization inventory is fully capped.
To date, the county has allocated $19.97 million in Surtax funding for dirt-road stabilization and asphalt capping. Staff estimates the remaining 52 miles will cost about $4.7 million, and the additional reserve funding approved Tuesday includes contingency coverage.
The Infrastructure Surtax Advisory Committee endorsed the allocation at its Nov. 13, 2025, meeting.
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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