By Bobby Parker
As the sun begins to set in Inlet Beach, a different kind of traffic now moves beneath Highway 98.
Families stroll toward dinner with sandy feet and beach towels draped over their shoulders. Cyclists coast through the underpass on their way to evening reservations at 30Avenue. Students laugh as they walk together toward the beach during the school day. What was once a stressful crossing dominated by speeding traffic has quietly transformed into something far more meaningful. A connection point for everyday life in South Walton.
For years, Highway 98 served as both a gateway and a barrier for Inlet Beach.
On the south side of the highway sat the beaches, Scenic Highway 30A, and the coastal lifestyle that has long defined the area. North of the highway, neighborhoods, restaurants, and gathering spaces continued to grow as Inlet Beach evolved into one of the fastest-growing communities in Walton County. Despite being separated by only a few lanes of traffic, the two sides often felt disconnected from one another.
Crossing Highway 98 on foot or by bike was possible, but it rarely felt comfortable or inviting. Families loaded bicycles onto cars for short trips. Visitors staying north of the highway often drove to the beach rather than walking. Those staying south of the highway rarely ventured north without getting behind the wheel.
The completion of the Inlet Beach Underpass has begun changing that dynamic in ways that are both visible and deeply personal to the community.
What was once simply a transportation challenge has become an example of how thoughtful infrastructure can reshape the way people experience a place. The underpass is no longer just a route beneath a highway. It has become part of the daily rhythm of Inlet Beach itself.
Few people have had a clearer view of that shift than Bryan Corr, developer of 30Avenue.
“Traffic into 30Avenue was not limited by the highway,” Corr said. “But more people chose to drive instead of bike or walk.”
That distinction gets to the heart of why the underpass matters. The challenge was never simply access. It was the experience of moving through the community safely and comfortably outside of a vehicle.
Today, Corr says visitors and residents alike are beginning to embrace a different pace and a different way of experiencing Inlet Beach.
“We are seeing more pedestrian and bike traffic since the underpass opened,” he said. “The visitors to the area are beginning to discover the safer option of crossing the highway.”
The impact is showing up in ways both large and small.
Students from Ohana Institute now regularly walk through the underpass to access nearby beach areas during school hours for recreation. Families staying north of the highway are biking south for beach days without loading everyone into a car. Visitors staying south of Highway 98 are now crossing north to shop, dine, and explore places they may never have previously considered visiting on foot.
What once felt like two separate parts of Inlet Beach is beginning to feel connected again.
That transformation is also being felt by businesses throughout 30Avenue. Corr says one of the clearest signs of the underpass’ success has come directly from tenants themselves.
“Tenants have requested more bike parking areas to reduce the number of bikes parked by their front door,” he said.
It is a small detail, but one that says a great deal about how daily behavior is changing. Rows of bicycles outside restaurants on a warm evening tell a more meaningful story than traffic counts ever could. They represent people choosing to slow down, spend more time outdoors, and experience South Walton in a more connected and active way.
For Corr, that shift aligns naturally with the vision behind 30Avenue and the larger culture of the area itself.
“A healthy lifestyle is part of the overall vitality of 30A,” he said. “People love to get out and walk and bike.”
One of the biggest changes he has noticed is the rise in what he calls “bike to dinner” traffic at night as visitors and locals move between the beach communities south of the highway and the restaurants and businesses north of it.
The underpass itself also reflects a larger vision for how infrastructure can enhance community character rather than detract from it. Organizations like Scenic Walton have long advocated for thoughtful and context-sensitive solutions that improve safety and connectivity while preserving the pedestrian-friendly nature and scenic beauty of South Walton. Rather than viewing the project as simply a transportation improvement, the focus remained on how it could strengthen quality of life and help maintain a sense of community as growth continues across the area.
That vision was further elevated through the involvement of the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, whose contribution helped transform the underpass into something far more inviting than a standard pedestrian tunnel. Public art and placemaking elements create a space that feels welcoming, creative, and reflective of the coastal community surrounding it. Instead of rushing through a dark concrete corridor, pedestrians and cyclists now move through a space that feels intentionally designed for people.
For Corr, the larger impact of the project ultimately comes down to unity.
“Inlet Beach 10 years ago was a tale of two towns, the North and the South,” he said.
That divide is beginning to fade as safer and more convenient access changes the way people move throughout the community.
“Now that safer and convenient access across the highway is available, we are starting to see more vacationers staying on the North side, and those staying on the South side are biking and walking north to shop and dine.”
The true success of the Inlet Beach Underpass may not be measured only in safety improvements or traffic patterns. Its greatest impact may be found in the ordinary moments now unfolding every day beneath Highway 98. Children walking to the beach. Couples biking to dinner at sunset. Families exploring more of the community together without needing to load into a car.
For a place that once felt divided by the highway running through its center, those moments are helping Inlet Beach feel connected again.
