The Florida Department of Transportation has issued a status report on road work on major highways and bridges in the area, and the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has some advice if you are planning to travel in the Destin area.

DOT District 3 Road Status:

Escambia

• SR 292 Perdido Key Road: roadway damage anticipated opening, late January. Currently working to make it passable.
  
• Bob Sikes Bridge is open to emergency vehicles: anticipated opening within a week.
  
• SR 8 (I-10) Escambia Bay Bridge: anticipated opening, mid-October.

Millview Bayou Bridge (SR 298) approach: anticipated opening next week.

Santa Rosa

• SR 399 Navarre Bridge causeway on Santa Rosa Island, anticipate opening within a week. A ferry service is in operation to carry residents/property owners back and forth to inspect their property. ID required.

Walton

• SR 20 Basin Bayou Bridge over the Choctaw Bay in Villa Tasso roadway damage: Open to two lanes, construction continues in the area.

Only two lanes of US Highway 98 are available for most of the distance between Fort Walton Beach and Destin. During peak traffic hours, lengthy delays are being experienced. Traffic into and out of Destin may be heavier than usual with the Destin Seafood Festival this weekend and the Destin Fishing Rodeo throughout the month of October.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office offers some advice for motorists traveling between Fort Walton Beach and Destin:

If possible, avoid eastbound 98 into Destin between 7 and 9 a.m. and westbound 98 out of Destin between 4 and 8 p.m.

Motorists may consider taking the Mid-Bay Bridge as an alternative route.

Allow extra travel time.

Practice courtesy and patience when merging from four lanes into two lanes. Do not attempt to race ahead of other traffic while merging.