Associate City Administrator Cliff Collins Covers Veterans Park Restroom, Graffiti Bridge, Gregory Street and More

Pensacola, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Pensacola Associate City Administrator Cliff Collins — a retired Navy captain and one of two associate administrators alongside Amy Miller — joined Pensacola's Morning News on Wednesday in Mayor DC Reeves usual place, and discussed huge city projects including the Chappie James Plaza at the foot of Three Mile Bridge, the Graffiti Bridge laser warning system, and the Veteran's Memorial Park restrooms.

Veterans Memorial Park Restroom — Finally Moving

After more than a decade of discussion the Veterans Memorial Park permanent restroom is heading to city council for a vote on August 13th. Collins says once council approves the project fabrication begins immediately — with the facility expected to be complete around early 2027.

The project has been complicated by the site's location in a federal flood zone. FEMA standards require the facility to be specifically dry flood-proof — meaning it cannot simply be placed on the ground like a standard structure. Collins says the city has worked through all of those requirements and has a solid budget in place. Total cost including installation and ECUA connections is just over $500,000. The permanent facility will be climate-controlled and fully ADA accessible — an important consideration for wheelchair-bound veterans who visit the park. Collins — who served 26 years in the Navy — says he is personally invested in getting this done right and says Mayor Reeves has been driving the project hard to deliver what the city promised.

Graffiti Bridge Warning System — September Construction, Boat Ramp Closing

The city has executed a contract with Lofus Marine for the long-awaited Graffiti Bridge overheight truck warning system — and construction begins in September. The system is a modern heads-up laser display that alerts truck drivers before they reach the bridge if their vehicle exceeds the height limit. Collins says lowering the posted limit from 12 feet to 10 feet did not stop the crashes — and he hopes the laser system will.

The boat ramp and surrounding parking area near the bridge will be completely closed during construction. Collins says more specific information on the duration of the closure and any alternative access options will be released as construction planning is finalized. He urged the local fishing community to watch for those details. Collins added with a smile that he drives by the Graffiti Bridge regularly and loves it as a piece of living local art — but says the new system should stop trucks from adding their own unintentional contributions to the canvas with their rooftops.

Gregory Street and 14th Avenue — Help Is on the Way

The dangerous intersection at Gregory Street and 14th Avenue — where drivers exiting the Three Mile Bridge struggle to safely make turns — is getting attention from FDOT. Collins says the agency just finished a traffic flow analysis and will use that data to complete a formal study by the end of August to determine whether a traffic signal is warranted. Collins described the signal determination as a formality.

While that process plays out FDOT is taking immediate action on three fronts — adding extra signs and road markers to clarify lane direction for I-110 traffic, painting a large 35 miles per hour speed limit directly on the asphalt so drivers can see it clearly, and installing a radar speed feedback sign. Collins acknowledges most people ignore radar signs but says any visual interruption that slows drivers down is worth doing while the long-term solution is pursued.

Chappie James Monument — Foundation at Impasse

The Chappie James Monument project has stalled at the foundation level. Collins says efforts to raise money for the F-4 Phantom display — the aircraft Chappie James flew during his military career — have hit an impasse. The city holds custody of the aircraft on loan from the Air Force Museum and it is currently being maintained at Naval Air Station Pensacola. Collins says he is actively reaching out to the aviation museum, the aircraft training facility, and foundation leadership to understand exactly where things stand and what options exist to move the project forward. He says Mayor Reeves wants to deliver on what was promised to the public and the city is going to find a way to make something happen with the aircraft even if the original monument plan does not come to fruition.