The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) invites you to attend a public hearing concerning proposed improvements to State Road (S.R.) 189 (Beal Parkway) at S.R. 393 (Mary Esther Boulevard) in Okaloosa County. The hearing will be held Thursday, March 19, 2015 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. CDT, at the Fort Walton Beach Shrine Club, 227 Carol Avenue, Fort Walton Beach. There will be an open house beginning at 5 p.m., followed by a formal presentation at 5:30 p.m. This hearing is being conducted to give interested persons an opportunity to express their views concerning the proposed additional turn and thru lanes on S.R. 189 (Beal Parkway) which includes a change in access management with the addition of a raised traffic separator. Improvements include widening on S.R. 189 (Beal Parkway) for the addition of a southbound thru lane, bike lanes and additional turn lanes. Other improvements include milling and resurfacing the existing lanes, minor drainage improvements, sidewalk construction, signing, and traffic signal upgrades. Proposed improvements will require additional right-of-way. Bids for construction are anticipated to be received winter 2016. Persons wishing to submit written statements, in place of, or in addition to, oral statements, may do so at the hearing or by sending them to Lonnie “DJ” Barber, P.E., FDOT Project Manager, 1074 Highway 90, Chipley, FL 32428 or via email at lonnie.barber@dot.state.fl.us. All statements received on or before March 30, 2015 will become part of the public hearing record. Representatives from FDOT will be available at the hearing to discuss the project, answer questions, and receive comments. Maps, drawings and other project information will be on display.