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TRANSPORTATION

I-95/I-10 construction is almost done

The 6-year-old project at the interchange should soon be a wrap.

Larry Hannan

After almost six years of construction, lane shifts and motorists uttering profanities as they drive through the intersection of Interstates 10 and 95, the $152 million construction project will soon be over. Confusion might not be.

"By October, everything will be open," senior project engineer Gregory Nettuno said.

However, work will continue into early 2011 on portions of the project, and that work will lead to occasional lane closures.

"There will still be a lot of little stuff to get done after everything is open," Nettuno said, like landscaping, drainage, lighting and the removal of temporary lanes.

Motorists have had to deal with multiple lane changes since the project began right after the Super Bowl in 2005. The project has been designed so that the intersection remains open, with some lanes and exits opening while others close.

The latest change occurred last month, when the existing flyover from I-10 eastbound to I-95 northbound was shut down and a new flyover with an exit at Forest Street opened.

The next change in the project is expected to occur in a few weeks. 

New lanes will open on I-95 southbound that will keep cars going south separate from cars getting on the interstate, and keep motorists away from the traffic getting off of I-95 south to go to I-10 westbound. 

At the same time, a new exit will open for motorists traveling on I-95 southbound that will take them to Forest Street, and an on ramp will take traffic from Forest Street to I-10 westbound.

Florida Department of Transportation spokesman Mike Goldman said an exact date has not yet been set.

For motorist convenience

The changes are designed to make it easier for motorists to get to Riverside Avenue or Five Points from I-95 southbound. Motorists must now go to either Stockton Street off of I-10 or get off at Union Street or Myrtle Avenue off of I-95.

It will also be easier for downtown motorists to access Roosevelt Boulevard (U.S. 17), Nettuno said.

"Cars that want to get from the downtown to U.S. 17 will find it much easier to do so from the Forest Street entrance," he said. "We've eliminated a lot of the weaving that now takes place."

Westbound I-10 motorists now have to switch over multiple lanes of traffic in about a half-mile to get to Roosevelt from the Irene Street entrance off Stockton. That shift will be eliminated, he said.

Around the end of September, new road lanes will also open on I-95 northbound just north of the Fuller Warren Bridge. The current I-95 northbound lanes are temporary, and will be torn down after the new lanes open.

The two left lanes that last month were the flyover from I-10 eastbound to I-95 northbound will also reopen, for motorists who want to get on I-95 northbound and avoid downtown Jacksonville.

No new road signs are planned directing people to the old flyover.

"Our traffic studies show that the majority of traffic wants to go downtown," Nettuno said. "So we want the signs to tell people how to do that."

The intersection became chaotic a few weeks ago when the new flyover opened and the old one closed. The first weekend had five accidents.

Lt. Bill Leeper  of the Florida Highway Patrol said the situation has stabilized, although police are still noticing some drivers who appear confused about where to go.

When more lane changes occur, people need to pay attention to avoid a repeat, he said.

Nettuno said he didn't expect similar confusion.

"The biggest shift was in July," he said. "I don't think what we have left is going to be that confusing."

The changes on I-95 southbound is the biggest shift remaining, but that isn't likely to be confusing, he said.

"The key with that," he said, "is to stay in your lane." 

larry.hannan@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4470