The Keystone Heights Airport Authority approved an agreement for its engineering firm to design a gate and fencing for the facility’s new westside access road.
The new two-lane, now behind the airport’s perimeter fence, is north of Airport Road and is not connected to State Road 100.
Airport Authority Chair David Kirkland told board members that because the Florida Legislature did not fund deceleration lanes for the facility’s two entrances during its 2024 session, the state’s Department of Transportation will allow the airport to connect the new road with the state highway only if the new road is used exclusively for emergency purposes.
Vice-chair Scott Fryar said that even with the limitation, an emergency entrance would assist first responders called to the facility during special events, such as Krawlin’ for the Fallen, a fall event at the airport that draws hundreds of Jeeps and thousands of spectators.
“When they have that Jeep event over there,” Fryar said, “there’s a lot of people in there. If (Airport Road) is blocked with traffic coming in, that would give EMS or law enforcement a direct shot.”
Fryar added that Bradford County officials could ask FDOT for permission to use the road for special events, improving access and departure from the facility for participants and spectators.
