A $1.7 million bridge replacement project on Dawson Road just south of Century is now underway.
The Florida Department of Transportation will pick up about $1.2 million of the cost, while Escambia County will be responsible for the rest of the cost for the bridge over Pritchett Mill Creek.
The current county-owned wooden-support bridge was constructed in 1965. It will be replaced with a 76-foot long concrete structure. The project will also include replacement of about 270 feet of roadway, curb and gutter, guardrail improvements and ditch grading. The bridge work is being coordinated with utility companies due two a 3-inch water main and a 3/4 inch Town of Century gas main.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
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4 Responses to “$1.7 Million Replacement Of Dawson Road Bridge Begins”
Neal … Thank you for the history lesson. Very interesting.
Almost $2,000,000 to replace that little bridge?
The bridge is the site of the first Pringle Mill in Florida, cutting right through the middle of the dam structure. Abraham Pringle and family came here in 1818, when still Spanish territory, and got a land grant. This seemed like a great place for a mill, but upon completion, neighbor Carlos Le Baron informed them that they had built on Le Baron’s land. John Pringle, Abe’s son, bought the land upstream on the other side of US29 and built a new mill. The new mill was later operated by the Diamonds and the Pritchetts, into the 20th century. That structure was torn down and the Tisdales built a new gristmill and ice plant. The Pringles also built a mill near the Century Courthouse, which was later operated by Beasley. A big project was the construction of a toll bridge across the river. The Pringles raised cotton, had a cotton press, harvested timber and made lumber. They built the Pringle School, co-located with Pleasant Hill Church for years. Three members of the Pringle family are buried in the Pringle Cemetery on Bluff Springs Road. You might know where it is, if someone had not stolen the sign I had made. Back to the bridge, heading north you can see timbers of the first Pringle mill in the water on the left.
…and the detour signs direct you DOWN Bluff Springs Road just to tell you that you can’t go that way.
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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under MORE TOP STORIES
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