Hurricane Ivan - driving detours?

[Octavius]

Hey all

Just looking for a little information from those of you in the area.  A family member is driving down to Ocala, FL from Milwaukee and they asked me to get some  info.  Are any major highways or other routes blocked off or unable to be traversed at this time (FL, bama, georgia)?  Trying to get info from AAA is like pulling teeth.  I don't think we have local sources around here that has short-term detour or even bridge out information.  

so, southern fellers, anything?

[sling322]

I think the I-10 bridge across Escambia Bay (?) in Pensacola is still closed.  I think....maybe someone in Fla can confirm.

[Octavius]

The driver originally wanted to head the Biloxi route... why, I have no clue.  Longer drive.  And the bridge is going to be out for a while longer I just found out.  The easiest way, imo, is via I-24 through Nashville and Atlanta.  If Ivan crossed over east... I guess I'm trying to find  if anything is fudged in the GA into FL area.

[storch]

Come down I-75

[Nifty]

Go down I-75 is right.  Do not come down to I-10 and go through Pensacola.  You'll have to detour around for the bay, and my friend said it took him about 3 hrs to go through the detour on his way back from Tallahassee yesterday.

I-10 will be completely shut down for about 30 days or so, and then it'll just be two lanes on the westbound side.  No telling how long it will be to rebuild the eastbound side.

[sling322]

Help is on the way Nifty.....my company is contracting to haul some floating bridge components out that way to help in the rebuilding of the bridge.

[Nifty]

thanks, sling!  need that eastbound route cleared up so I can get to my FSU football games.  

now if you could just get power restored downtown...  I'd really like to go back to work so I can stop using my vacation time.