Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally is being held this weekend in Panama City Beach, and organizers estimate nearly 60,000 bikers will be in the area.

The bikers will be sharing the roadways with not only motorists, but also orange construction cones, as multiple projects are ongoing.

The Florida Department of Transportation’s $110 million project on US-98, known as “Back Beach Road” to locals, has been ongoing for multiple years.

Once completed, the project will have widened a nearly five-mile stretch of the road to six lanes.
Bikers in the area say the project is making it hard to get around during Thunder Beach.

“I’m sure it’ll help once the construction is done, but it’s been going on for a while now,” said Kenneth E. from Alabama.

“This construction work for one thing is horrible, it’s just really, really busy,” said Drew L. from Alabama.

“You’re sitting in traffic longer, the bikes can overheat, you’re getting a suntan, you’ve gotta have some lotion on. It just makes it longer to get wherever you’re going,” said Audrey R. from Lynn Haven.

FDOT says the project is on schedule, set to complete in Fall 2027.

Bikers say the ongoing work on Back Beach is frustrating and dangerous.

“It restricts our navigation due to the cars being on the road and the ground-up roadways. It’s hazardous with not everybody paying attention,” Kenneth said.

“We’ve got tourists that aren’t used to this traffic and the congestion, and then we’ve got the motorcycles, so it’s not a good combination,” Audrey said. “Sometimes we even go all the way out and around by the airport to miss all of the congestion here.”

The light at the end of the tunnel is safer roads that are easier to navigate, but bikers and drivers say that doesn’t ease their current irritation.

“Once they get it completed, it will be a benefit, especially with this type of event, and the summer, and Spring Break,” said Audrey.

“Everybody’s got to pay attention, it’s not just up to us, it’s up to everybody in the cars too. Watch, learn and listen,” Drew said.

FDOT says the nighttime lane reductions on Back Beach Road will be put on pause through the weekend given the amount of bikers and drivers on the road.