NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
September 11, 2008
Contact: Michele Nicholson
Public Information Officer
(850) 651-7420
****UPDATE****
East & West Highway 98 closed on Okaloosa Island until further notice due to storm surge from Hurricane Ike.
HIGHWAY 98 ON OKALOOSA ISLAND CLOSED
All four lanes of
Highway 98 on Okaloosa Island are now closed due to coastal storm surge caused
by Hurricane Ike. Both eastbound and westbound lanes will remain shut down until
further notice.
EASTBOUND 98 CLOSED ON OKALOOSA ISLAND
Okaloosa County
Sheriff’s Deputies report that storm surge from Hurricane Ike on Okaloosa Island
has now forced the closure of the eastbound lanes near Gulf Islands National
Seashore. The westbound lanes are still open but could be threatened later this
morning.
Motorists who
need to head east to Destin will need to use the Mid-Bay Bridge east of
Niceville.
###
IKE CAUSING ROAD PROBLEMS IN ISOLATED SPOTS
As of 6 a.m.
Thursday morning, storm surge from Hurricane Ike is causing isolated road
flooding on parts of western Gulf Shore Drive in Destin and on Highway 98 near
the Gulf Islands National Seashore on Okaloosa Island.
At least one car
has already flooded out in the eastbound lanes of 98 at that location.
The Okaloosa
County Sheriff’s Office is asking drivers to be extra careful this morning.
Expect delays on Highway 98 on Okaloosa Island, as well as the possibility of
lane closures, especially in the eastbound lanes, as the situation deteriorates.