Massive I-95/JTB Expansion Project Underway
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has started construction on the $67 million project to improve the I-95/Butler Boulevard interchange. This comes 10 months after FDOT and Governor Rick Scott announced the accelerated project at a press conference in February.
The interchange will be reconstructed to provide a flyover ramp for southbound I-95 traffic exiting onto eastbound Butler Boulevard. Other improvements proposed are a new free-flow ramp from westbound Butler Boulevard to I-95 northbound; widen Butler Boulevard to six lanes from Philips Highway to Belfort Road; add a new signal at Butler Boulevard and the I-95 northbound ramp to provide westbound left turns; convert Salisbury Road to a two-way roadway; close the right turn lane from Butler Boulevard westbound to Salisbury Road North; close the median opening between Philips Highway and Bonneval Road; and construct a noise wall adjacent to Windsor Falls, Coventry Park and Midtowne Townhouses.
On the drawing board for years, this design includes a shared use path on the south side of Butler Boulevard, tying the west and east sides of I-95 together for cyclist and pedestrians. This design modification comes after a 2010 Metro Jacksonville article explaining why the previous plans for the interchange were shortsighted for excluding bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Currently trees are being removed to allow for the construction of drainage ponds, noise walls and necessary utility work. Additional details concerning the project will be provided at a FDOT construction open house on January 21, 2015.
Construction update by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com
On the drawing board for years, this design includes a shared use path on the south side of Butler Boulevard, tying the west and east sides of I-95 together for cyclist and pedestrians. This design modification comes after a 2010 Metro Jacksonville article explaining why the previous plans for the interchange were shortsighted for excluding bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Currently trees are being removed to allow for the construction of drainage ponds, noise walls and necessary utility work. Additional details concerning the project will be provided at a FDOT construction open house on January 21, 2015.
Construction update by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com