Pensacola Beach Updates: April 2017

Escambia County today announced several changes on Pensacola Beach, including Casino Beach parking lot access improvements, new amenities and changes to the open container rules.

Casino Beach Parking Lot Access Improvements Project

Beginning in May, access into and exiting the Casino Beach parking lot along Via De Luna Drive and Fort Pickens Road will be modified.The only entrance into the parking lot will now be located at the existing access along Via De Luna Drive, located next to Sidelines Sports Bar and across the street from Flounder’s Chowder House. The only exit from the parking lot will be from the existing access along Fort Pickens Road near the public restrooms/Public Safety Building. The parking lot will function in a circular configuration in order to improve traffic movements within the lot.

A new traffic signal will also be installed along Via De Luna Drive in order to effectively control traffic movements into the Casino Beach parking lot. The signal will provide a new westbound left turn into the lot. The new traffic signal will include a pedestrian push button signal. The new traffic signal and push button signal will be coordinated with the existing traffic signal at the intersection of Via De Luna Drive and Fort Pickens Road.

Public Works Projects/New Amenities

Escambia County's Pensacola Beach Public Works division has been working diligently on several improvement projects and new amenities for residents and guests to enjoy. These include:

• New drinking fountains and bottle filling stations at Casino Beach and Quietwater Beach
• Rehabilitation of the bathroom facilities at Parks East and West
• An erosion control project at the Cross on Fort Pickens
• Rio Vista and Corto drainage project
• Completed repair of drainage pipe crossings on Via De Luna
• Pensacola Beach Boardwalk parking lot lighting project
• Rehabilitation of the bathroom facilities at Quiewater Beach

Open Container Rule Updates

The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners voted to extend the ban of open containers of alcohol on the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk until June 2018. However, the ban will only be in effect from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., allowing for open containers after 10 p.m. As has always been the case, open containers of alcohol are allowed on the beach.