Summertime traffic sees increase in Panama City Beach

If you've tried to drive in Panama City Beach, you know to allow yourself a lot of extra time. Summer is here and with the season comes traffic.

“I can only imagine people’s blood pressure right now," Great White Pizza Owner James Sicker said.

That's why Sicker rides an electric skateboard to work.

“It saves me hours a week on commute," Sickler said.

But when he said he has gotten into his car, it's "been a nightmare."

Driving along Front Beach Road, drivers not only get a beautiful view of the beach, but also some bumpers.

"Traffic is always an issue in the summertime. We’re starting to see a lot of folks come into town for the baseball tournaments. We have a lot of pent up folks who want to come here as a driving destination," Panama City Beach City Councilman Geoff McConnell said.

McConnell also said heavy traffic this time of the year is normal, and he asks folks to be patient.

Sickler asks folks to stay out of the intersection.

​“It ties up traffic in other ways whenever you’re stuck in the middle of the intersection. The people trying to get across the roads, cannot get across," Sickler said.

Nonetheless, help is on the way.

“What the Department of Transportation is looking at doing is widening Back Beach Road from four to six lanes. That is a project that will be coming in the next couple of years," FDOT Spokesperson Ian Satter said.

Satter also said those additional lanes will be constructed toward the median.