Okaloosa County, Fla., Oct. 1, 2026—Nearly all of the almost 200 miles of county-maintained dirt roads in Okaloosa County have been paved thanks to the voter-approved infrastructure surtax.
What started out as a “50 in 5” project by then-Commissioner Nathan Boyles in 2020 to stabilize 50 miles of dirt roads in five years surpassed all expectations by ultimately stabilizing all publicly maintained dirt roads with a limerock base and capping with either a chip-seal or hot-mix application to provide a smoother, safer route for Okaloosa motorists.
Instead of 50 miles in five years, the county stabilized 180 miles in four years, leaving only a handful of roadways to be paved.
“I’m thrilled that the county has continued this important effort for the residents of Okaloosa County,” said State Representative Nathan Boyles. “As a resident of Okaloosa County, I enjoy traveling on these improved roadways regularly and as a taxpayer, I am proud that our county continues to wisely invest taxpayer money in infrastructure that makes our lives better and lowers long-term maintenance costs.”
According to Scott Bitterman, Okaloosa County Public Works director, the county has spent $25 million on the 50 in 5 road project.
“We started the 50 in 5 program back in March of 2020,” he said. “Here we are in about six-and-a-half years later, but we’ve already accomplished almost 187 miles of capping and paving of those roads and the surtax program chipped in $25 million toward the effort.”
Not only do the road improvements in north Okaloosa County provide a safer and smoother experience for drivers, but a stabilized road allows hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to be saved in maintenance and fuel costs that used to be spent on repairing washed-out roads following rain events, according to Bitterman.
A comprehensive dashboard to view current and completed infrastructure projects throughout the county can be found at myokaloosa.com/bcc/infrastructureprojects
Staff and Nick Tomecek, Okaloosa County public information officer
