Interstate 10 in Florida

Interstate 10 (I-10) runs for 362 miles (583 km) in Florida as the easternmost section of an east–west Interstate Highway in the southern United States. It is also the eastern end of one of three coast-to-coast Interstates, along with I-80 and I-90. The highway runs east from the Alabama border, traveling through the Panhandle of Florida, serving the major cities of Pensacola, Tallahassee, Lake City, ending at Jacksonville, and carries the hidden Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) designation of State Road 8 (SR 8).

Interstate 10 marker
Interstate 10
Map
I-10 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by FDOT
Length362.057 mi[1] (582.674 km)
Existed1958–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end I-10 near Robertsdale, AL
Major intersections
East end I-95 / US 17 / SR 15 / SR 228 in Jacksonville
Location
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountiesEscambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Gadsden, Leon, Jefferson, Madison, Suwannee, Columbia, Baker, Nassau, Duval
Highway system
SR 9B SR 10
SR 7SR 8 SR 8A

Route description

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Eastbound view of I-10 near Lake City and I-75

The Interstate runs roughly parallel to US Highway 90 (US 90) (which intersects I-10 at five different points along its route), but is a more direct route, bypassing the central cores of many cities. I-10 runs through some of the least populated areas of the state.

I-10 crosses into Florida at Alabama state line at the Perdido River, just west of Pensacola, in Escambia County. Florida State Road 297 (SR 297, southbound) at exit 7A, gives access to the Pensacola Naval Air Station and the National Museum of Naval Aviation. On the border between Brent and Ensley, the median approaching exits 10A and 10B becomes unexpectedly wide in order to accommodate flyover on-ramps from US 29 that enter the left sides of the road. At exit 12, I-10 serves as the northern terminus of I-110, a spur route to central Pensacola. The highway leaves the county at the Escambia Bay Bridge and has two interchanges within Santa Rosa County before crossing another bridge over the Blackwater River. After that bridge, it has two more interchanges with a pair of rest areas in between before crossing the Santa Rosa–Okaloosa county line.

The road crosses the border between the Central and Eastern time zones at the long Dewey M. Johnson Bridge, over the Apalachicola River. East of the bridge over the Ochlockonee River and the rest areas that follow, I-10 widens from four to six lanes and remains that way until after the interchange with SR 61 and US 319 in Tallahassee.

Like at US 29 in Escambia County, the median for I-10 widens in the vicinity of I-75 at exits 296A and 296B, near Lake City, in order to accommodate flyover on-ramps that enter from the left sides of the road.

A 21-mile-long (34 km) segment between exits 303 and 324 contains no interchanges because it passes through a portion of Osceola National Forest. The sole means of leaving and reentering the highway in this section is at a pair of rest areas, the easternmost rest areas along I-10. The road widens to six lanes again at the interchange with the First Coast Expressway. Just as I-75 did with I-10 in Columbia County, I-10's interchange with I-295 uses single ramps leading to both directions on I-295 with east-to-north and south-to-west flyover ramps leading to the median of I-295. US 17 overlaps I-10 for two exits before the eastern terminus of the Interstate, located in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Jacksonville's urban core at I-95.

History

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Construction

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I-10 west at the interchange for US 17 Alt. south in Jacksonville

Prior to the construction of I-10, US 90 was the main east–west highway across the state.

The first section of I-10 in Florida was completed between Sanderson and Jacksonville in 1961. Construction on points westward continued in 1962. The route between Sanderson and Winfield was completed in 1963. By 1967, construction had been completed from the Alabama state line to SR 87 and was under construction from Falmouth to I-75. New construction extending I-10 east from SR 87 to Mossy Head began in 1968. The Falmouth to I-75 segment opened in 1969. Construction began in 1970 further extending I-10 eastward from Mossy Head to DeFuniak Springs. New construction began in 1973 from DeFuniak Springs to Caryville and from Drifton to Capitola; the segment between Drifton and Falmouth opened that year. The Capitola–Drifton segment was completed the following year. Construction began between Caryville and Chipley in 1974, and from Chipley to Midway in 1975. The segment between Chipley and Midway was completed in 1977 except for a small portion between Kynesville and Oakdale; in 1978, the entire length of I-10, as well as the I-110 spur in Pensacola across the state opened along its original planned route.[2]

During the planning stage of construction, I-10 was placed just north of the central business district of Tallahassee, roughly along the current route of US 90 through town, while later a spur route was proposed to go to the core of the city. Both of these proposals were dropped and a route across the north side of the city was chosen. In 2008, the Interstate stretch in Tallahassee was expanded to six lanes to alleviate congestion.

In 2002, I-10, along with most of Florida's Interstates, switched over from a sequential exit numbering system to a mileage-based exit numbering system.[3]

Rest area security concerns

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I-10 west approaching the interchange for US 319/SR 61 in Tallahassee

In 1993, a British tourist was killed at the Jefferson County rest area in a botched burglary by teens.[4][5] As a result, Florida rest stops were either patrolled or closed for at least two years when lawmakers approved cutbacks.[6] A number of rest areas are currently regularly patrolled at night by armed security, often private, due to a resurgence in rest area-related violent crime.[7]

Hurricane Ivan

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On September 16, 2004, Hurricane Ivan made landfall near Pensacola, with the resulting storm surge causing heavy damage to the I-10 bridge across Escambia Bay. As much as a quarter mile (400 m) of the bridge, consisting of 58 bridge segments, collapsed into the bay, and an additional 66 segments were knocked out of alignment; most of the damage was to the eastbound lanes.[8] A $26.5 million project was awarded the following day to Gilbert Southern/Massman and to the Parsons Corporation to make emergency repairs to the bridge. Work was completed on October 4 on the westbound bridge, restoring two-way traffic seven days ahead of schedule. The more heavily damaged eastbound bridge was completely repaired on November 20, just 66 days after Hurricane Ivan made landfall, and 27 days ahead of schedule. The contractor received $1.5 million in bonuses for the early completion. The commercial truck detour sent truck traffic into Alabama and I-65 to avoid the bridges.

The causeway that carries US 90 across the northern part of the same bay was also heavily damaged.

Exit list

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CountyLocationmi[1]kmOld exit[3]New exitDestinationsNotes
Escambia0.0000.000 
 
I-10 west – Mobile
Alabama state line (Perdido River)
1.1[9]1.8Inspection station (eastbound only)
2.54.0-2  SR 99 (Beulah Road)New interchange to begin construction in mid-2025
3.4[9]5.5Weigh station
4.4[9]7.1Florida Welcome Center (eastbound only)
5.5238.88815 
 
US 90 Alt.
Ensley7.09211.41327  SR 297 (Pine Forest Road) – Pensacola NAS, Perdido KeySigned as exits 7A (south) and 7B (north) eastbound
EnsleyBrent line10.27016.528310  US 29 – Pensacola, CantonmentSigned as exits 10A (south) and 10B (north) eastbound
12.42219.991412 
 
  I-110 south – Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, Airport
Exit 6 (I-110); Northern terminus of I-110
Ferry Pass12.92820.806513   SR 291 (Davis Highway)Access to West Florida Hospital
16.49526.546617  US 90 – Pensacola, Pace
Escambia Bay16.549[9]
19.166
26.633–
30.845
Escambia Bay Bridge
Santa RosaAvalon Beach21.70034.923722 
 
 
 
SR 281 north / SR 281 south – Milton, Gulf Breeze
25.94641.756826  CR 191 – Milton, Bagdad
27.158[9]
27.747
43.707–
44.654
Bridge over Blackwater River
28.41545.730928  CR 89 – Milton
30.2[9]48.6Rest area
31.26550.3161031  SR 87 – Fort Walton Beach, Milton, Navarre
Okaloosa45.07272.5361145  CR 189 – Holt
Crestview53P. J. Adams Parkway – CrestviewInterchange under construction[10]
56.30090.6061256  SR 85 – Crestview, Niceville
60.0[9]96.6Rest area
Walton69.482111.8201370  SR 285 – Niceville, Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field
DeFuniak Springs84.587136.1301485   US 331 – DeFuniak Springs, FreeportAccess to Healthmark Regional Medical Center
HolmesPonce de Leon96.018154.5261596  SR 81 – Ponce de LeonRest area in the southeast corner
Washington104.038167.43316104  CR 279 – Caryville
HolmesBonifay111.685179.74017112  SR 79 – Bonifay, Panama City Beach
WashingtonChipley119.680192.60618120   SR 77 – Chipley, Panama CityAccess to Northwest Florida Community Hospital
Jackson129.833208.94619130  US 231 – Cottondale, Panama City, Dothan, AL, Montgomery, AL
133.2[9]214.4Rest area
Marianna136.441219.58120136  SR 276 – Marianna
142.126228.73021142   SR 71 – Marianna, BlountstownAccess to Jackson Hospital
152.041244.68622152  SR 69 – Grand Ridge, Blountstown
155.6[9]250.4Weigh station
158.011254.29423158  CR 286 – Sneads
Apalachicola River160.061[9]
161.220
257.593–
259.458
Dewey M. Johnson Bridge, Central/Eastern Time Zone boundary
Gadsden161.30[9]259.59Rest area
165.729266.71524166  CR 270A – Chattahoochee
174.093280.17625174  SR 12 – Quincy, Gretna, Greensboro
180.963291.23226181   SR 267 – QuincyAccess to Capital Regional Medical Center-Gadsden Memorial Campus
Midway191.949308.91227192  US 90 – Midway, Quincy, TallahasseeAccess to Florida State University and Florida A&M University
Ochlockonee River193.569[9]
193.798
311.519–
311.888
Bridge
Leon194.3[9]312.7Rest area
Tallahassee195.731314.99928196  SR 263 (Capital Circle Northwest) – Int’l Airport
199.010320.27629199  US 27 (Monroe Street) – State Capitol
202.678326.17930203    US 319 / SR 61 (Thomasville Road, Capital Circle Northeast)Access to Capital Regional Medical Center
206.00331.52206  CR 151 (Centerville Road)Proposed interchange[11]
208.570335.66131209  US 90 – Tallahassee, MonticelloSigned as exits 209A (west) and 209B (east)
Jefferson216.737348.80432217  SR 59
225.055362.19133225  US 19 (FL-GA Parkway) – Monticello, Perry, Thomasville
232.849374.73434233  CR 257
234.8[9]377.9Rest area
Madison241.217388.20135241  US 221 – Greenville, Perry
251.520404.78236251  SR 14 – Madison, Perry
258.106415.38137258  SR 53 – Madison
261.771421.28038262  CR 255 – Lee
263.3[9]423.7Weigh station
264.9[9]426.3Rest area
Suwannee River268.142[9]
268.246
431.533–
431.700
Bridge
Suwannee270.6[9]435.5Inspection station
274.642441.99339275  US 90 – Live Oak, Lee
282.770455.07440283   US 129 – Live Oak, JasperAccess to Shands Live Oak Regional Medical Center
292.127470.13341292  CR 137 – Wellborn
293.4[9]472.2Rest area (eastbound)
Columbia294.4[9]473.8Rest area (westbound)
296.199476.68642296  I-75 – Tampa, ValdostaSigned as exits 296A (south) and 296B (north); Exit 435 (I-75)
301.293484.88443301   US 41 – Lake City, White SpringsAccess to Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center
Lake City303.458488.36844303   US 441 – Lake City, FargoAccess to Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center
Baker317.8[9]511.4Rest area
323.827521.14945324  US 90 – Sanderson, Olustee, Lake City
326.750525.85346327  CR 229 – Sanderson, Raiford
332.782535.56147333  CR 125 – Glen St. Mary
Macclenny335.145539.36448335  SR 121 – Macclenny, Lake Butler, GainesvilleSigned as exits 335A (south) and 335B (north) westbound
336.312541.24249336   SR 228 – Macclenny, MaxvilleAccess to Ed Fraser Memorial Hospital
Nassau
No major junctions
DuvalJacksonville343.879553.42050343  US 301 – Baldwin, Starke
350.370563.866350 
 
 
 
 
 
SR 23 south (Cecil Commerce Center Parkway) / SR 23 north to US 90 (Beaver Street)
opened in 2010, replaced rest area, signed as exits 350A (south) and 350B (north) eastbound
JacksonvilleWhitehouse line352.096566.64451351  CR 115C (Chaffee Road) – Whitehouse
JacksonvilleMarietta line355Hammond BoulevardOpened June 8, 2016[12]
356.269573.35952355MariettaFormer right-in/right-out; replaced 2016 by Hammond Boulevard exit
Jacksonville356.838574.27553356  I-295 – Daytona Beach, SavannahExit 21 (I-295)
357.910576.00054357  SR 103 (Lane Avenue)
359.185578.05255358  SR 111 (Cassat Avenue/Edgewood Avenue)
359.895579.19556359 
 
Luna Street to CR 213 (Lenox Avenue) / Highway AvenueModule:Jct error: Invalid "to" argument
Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
360.773580.60857360  SR 129 (McDuff Avenue)
361.046581.04758361 
 
US 17 south (Roosevelt Boulevard) – NAS Jax
West end of the overlap with US 17 / SR 15 / SR 228; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
361.642582.00659362  Stockton Street - RiversideAccess to St. Vincent's Medical Center Riverside
362.057582.674  I-95 – Jax Beaches, Daytona Beach, Downtown, SavannahEastern terminus of I-10; east end of the overlap with US 17 / SR 15 / SR 228; exit 351B (I-95)
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

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  1. ^ a b Florida Department of Transportation. "FDOT Interchange Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 8, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2007.
  2. ^ "Florida's Interstates: A Half Century of Progress". Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Florida's Interstate Exit Numbers- I-10". Florida Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on December 6, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  4. ^ "Orlando Sentinel: Articles about Rest stop". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  5. ^ "Crist: Appeal Denied in British Tourist's I-10 Rest Stop Murder" (Press release). Archived from the original on June 17, 2011.
  6. ^ Rohter, Larry (September 15, 1993). "Tourist Killed in Florida, Prompting New Patrols". The New York Times. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
  7. ^ Santana, Sofia (May 30, 2008). "Highway rest areas no place to let your guard down". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  8. ^ "Aerial Tour of Panhandle Shows Devastation". Orlando: WESH. Archived from the original on February 29, 2012.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "FDOT straight line diagrams". Archived from the original on March 6, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  10. ^ "FDOT :: I-10 @ Antioch Road Interchange, #407918-5 :: Florida Department of Transportation".
  11. ^ Brandt, Kendall (June 20, 2024). "New I-10 interchange, overpass, coming as a part of the NE Gateway" (Video). Midway, Florida: WTXL-TV. Retrieved August 5, 2024 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ "New I-10 Marietta overpass and interchange scheduled to open Wednesday night".
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