LETTER: Save our Scenic: Old 98 in peril

The world-class scenic view of the beach and Gulf as you stroll or motor down Old 98 is taking another hit.  Just as everyone realizes that the view near Pompano Joe’s is all but gone because of a half mile of beachside fence, work crews are out again, this time destroying the view in the Whale’s Tail area.

At this writing, the footings for a beachside sidewalk and fence are being installed on the south side of Scenic 98 near the Whale’s Tail.  Hopefully, when they get to the fence portion of the sidewalk, they can use a slender, open rail design so as to do minimum damage to the view as you ride down the road or walk on the sidewalk on the north side of the road.

If they use the same thick construction materials they used near Pompano Joe’s, the destruction of the beautiful driving view will be complete, and we should just go ahead and officially change the name of the road to Old 98 instead of Scenic Highway 98.

Joel Smith

Miramar Beach