News Service of Florida (via WUWF) reports, “After the end of years of legal battling about Northwest Florida’s Garcon Point Bridge, the span could become part of the state turnpike system. Senate Transportation Chairman Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, and Rep. Shane Abbott, R-DeFuniak Springs, filed bills [SB 1250 and HB HB 1305]) this week that would allow the Department of Transportation to transfer the bridge to the turnpike system. The bridge was the subject of a legal fight between bondholders and the state because it did not generate enough toll revenue. The department last year agreed to pay $134 million to take control of the bridge and to end the litigation. The Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority, which was created by the Legislature in 1992, issued bonds in 1996 to build the bridge over part of Pensacola Bay.”
