Gulf Islands National Seashore reopening areas after Tropical Storm Marco passes

Gulf Islands National Seashore is preparing to reopen several areas that were shuttered ahead of Tropical Storm Marco.

The National Park Service on Thursday plans to reopen Johnson Beach, Perdido Key, Opal Beach and Okaloosa areas. Roads have been cleared and those areas are expected to resume normal operations Thursday.

Fort Pickens Road has several inches of water, but staff anticipate the water will recede in the coming days and allow the Fort Pickens Area to reopen Friday. Several parking lots in the Fort Pickens area will remain closed due to standing water.

Pensacola Bay Cruises and the Fort Pickens tram service will also resume Friday.

Fort Pickens campground Loop A (50% capacity) will reopen Saturday and Loops B and D (50% capacity) will reopen Monday.

Naval Live Oaks day use areas will remain open and the picnic area restroom will reopen Sept. 4.

After completing assessments Wednesday morning, Gulf Islands National Seashore crews determined J. Earl Bowden Way was safe for traffic and will remain open.

Fort Barrancas, the Fort Barrancas Visitor Center and Advanced Redoubt Fort remain closed due to the restrictions on Naval Air Station Pensacola.