I-295 East Beltway Being Expanded to 12 Lanes
Don't believe us? Take a look at the plans and count them for yourself!
By the end of this summer, five miles of I-295 East Beltway between SR 9B and Town Center Parkway will become Jacksonville's next major roadway construction zone. When this stretch of highway opened a decade ago, many pondered why it wasn't constructed with at least six lanes from the start. Well now FDOT is prepared to resolve this issue once and for all. FDOT plans to add tolled express lanes, increasing the number of lanes from four to as much as twelve in certain segments of the corridor. According to FDOT, express lanes are an innovative concept to manage traffic congestion and provide choices for motorists. Express lanes provide predictable travel times, especially during peak travel periods. Motorists that choose to use the express lanes travel at higher speeds than those in the more congested general use lanes. Drivers will need a Sunpass to pay to use the express lanes.
Revenues from this project will generally be used to operate and maintain the I-295 East Beltway. Excess revenues will be used on transportation projects in the area. The anticipated long term capital costs for this project is $149 million. A summary of improvements is listed below:
Northbound direction
In northbound I-295, the Build Alternative begins with a single express lane on I-295 East just south of State Road 9B. This express lane is joined by a northbound express lane from State Road 9B to create two northbound Express Lanes on I-295.
The I-295 express lanes do not provide access to the State Road 152 (Baymeadows Road) or Gate Parkway interchanges.
North of State Road 152 (Baymeadows Road), the express lanes widen to three lanes. The inside express lane becomes a flyover connecting directly to the ramp for State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.). The outside express lane ends north of the Gate Parkway off-ramp by merging with the I-295 general use lanes. The middle lane continues north as a single express lane. The Build Alternative ends when this single express lane merges with the I-295 general use lanes just north of the I-295/State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) bridge.
Southbound direction
In southbound I-295, the Build Alternative begins with a single express lane just north of the State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) bridge. A second express lane begins just south of the Gate Parkway Interchange off- ramp.
The I-295 express lanes do not provide access to the State Road 152 (Baymeadows Road) or Gate Parkway Interchanges.
At the I-295 East/State Road 9B interchange, the express lanes split with one lane heading southward towards State Road 9B, while the other express lane continues on I-295 East. The express lane merges with the general use lanes just south of I-295/State Road 9B interchange.
In addition to the express lanes, the Build Alternative provides the following improvements:
I-295 East General Purpose Lanes
Adds a northbound auxiliary lane from State Road 9B to State Road 152 (Baymeadows Road)
Widens southbound I-295 to eliminate the lane drop at the merge of southbound I-295 and State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) and provide four general use lanes from State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) to the
Gate Parkway Interchange
I-295 East and State Road 152 (Baymeadows Road)
Widens eastbound State Road 152 (Baymeadows Road) in the median from two to four lanes underneath I-295 to accommodate the dual left-turn lanes from eastbound State Road 152 (Baymeadows Road) to northbound I-295
Widens the northbound I-295 on-ramp to accept the dual left turn lanes from eastbound State Road 152 (Baymeadows Road)
Widens all off-ramp terminals from one lane to two lanes with the exception of southbound I-295 to eastbound State Road 152 (Baymeadows Road)
I-295 East and Gate Parkway Interchange
Widens eastbound Gate Parkway in the median from two to four lanes underneath I-295 to accommodate the dual left-turn lanes from eastbound Gate Parkway to northbound I-295
Widens the southbound I-295 off-ramp from one lane to two lanes
Widens all off-ramp terminals from one lane to two lanes with the exception of southbound I-295 to eastbound Gate Parkway
Widens the northbound I-295 on-ramp to accept the dual left turn lanes from eastbound Gate Parkway
I-295 East and State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) Interchange
Widens northbound I-295 to the State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) ramp from two to three lanes
Widens northbound I-295 from two lanes to three lanes between the westbound State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) merge and the eastbound State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) merge with I-295
I-295 East and Town Center Parkway Interchange
Widens the northbound I-295 off-ramp to Town Center Parkway from one lane to two lanes
State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) and Kernan Boulevard Interchange
Signalizes both ramp termini intersections
Widens the eastbound State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) off-ramp from one lane to two lanes
Widens left turn lane from eastbound State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) off-ramp to NB Kernan Boulevard from one lane to two lanes
Widens the left turn lane from southbound Kernan to eastbound State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) on-ramp from one lane to two lanes
Widens the eastbound SR 202 (JTB Blvd.) on-ramp from one lane to two lanes to receive the dual left turns. This ramp merges to a single-lane ramp prior to the gore to SR 202 (JTB Blvd.)
Widens right turn lane from SR 202 (JTB Blvd.) off-ramp to NB Kernan Boulevard from one lane to two lanes
SR 202 (JTB Blvd.) and Gate Parkway Interchange
Adds an auxiliary lane on WB SR 202 (JTB Blvd.) between NB I-295 East to WB SR 202 (JTB Blvd) ramp to Gate Parkway. This eliminates the merge on WB SR 202 (JTB Blvd.) between the NB I-295 East to WB SR 202 (JTB Blvd) ramp and the SB I-295 East to WB SR 202 (JTB Blvd) ramp
Widens the WB SR 202 (JTB Blvd.) off-ramp to Gate Parkway from one lane to two lanes so both auxiliary lanes can end at Gate Parkway interchange
For more information, visit: https://www.northfloridaexpress.com/Sr9BtoJTButlerBoulevard/Pages/Home.aspx
Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com
Next Page: I-295 East Beltway Renderings
Typical Roadway Cross Sections
Roadway Plans
I-295 Express Lanes Alternative - Interim
I-295 Express Lanes Alternative - Ultimate
article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com
Revenues from this project will generally be used to operate and maintain the I-295 East Beltway. Excess revenues will be used on transportation projects in the area. The anticipated long term capital costs for this project is $149 million. A summary of improvements is listed below:
Northbound direction
In northbound I-295, the Build Alternative begins with a single express lane on I-295 East just south of State Road 9B. This express lane is joined by a northbound express lane from State Road 9B to create two northbound Express Lanes on I-295.
The I-295 express lanes do not provide access to the State Road 152 (Baymeadows Road) or Gate Parkway interchanges.
North of State Road 152 (Baymeadows Road), the express lanes widen to three lanes. The inside express lane becomes a flyover connecting directly to the ramp for State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.). The outside express lane ends north of the Gate Parkway off-ramp by merging with the I-295 general use lanes. The middle lane continues north as a single express lane. The Build Alternative ends when this single express lane merges with the I-295 general use lanes just north of the I-295/State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) bridge.
Southbound direction
In southbound I-295, the Build Alternative begins with a single express lane just north of the State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) bridge. A second express lane begins just south of the Gate Parkway Interchange off- ramp.
The I-295 express lanes do not provide access to the State Road 152 (Baymeadows Road) or Gate Parkway Interchanges.
At the I-295 East/State Road 9B interchange, the express lanes split with one lane heading southward towards State Road 9B, while the other express lane continues on I-295 East. The express lane merges with the general use lanes just south of I-295/State Road 9B interchange.
In addition to the express lanes, the Build Alternative provides the following improvements:
I-295 East General Purpose Lanes
Adds a northbound auxiliary lane from State Road 9B to State Road 152 (Baymeadows Road)
Widens southbound I-295 to eliminate the lane drop at the merge of southbound I-295 and State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) and provide four general use lanes from State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) to the
Gate Parkway Interchange
I-295 East and State Road 152 (Baymeadows Road)
Widens eastbound State Road 152 (Baymeadows Road) in the median from two to four lanes underneath I-295 to accommodate the dual left-turn lanes from eastbound State Road 152 (Baymeadows Road) to northbound I-295
Widens the northbound I-295 on-ramp to accept the dual left turn lanes from eastbound State Road 152 (Baymeadows Road)
Widens all off-ramp terminals from one lane to two lanes with the exception of southbound I-295 to eastbound State Road 152 (Baymeadows Road)
I-295 East and Gate Parkway Interchange
Widens eastbound Gate Parkway in the median from two to four lanes underneath I-295 to accommodate the dual left-turn lanes from eastbound Gate Parkway to northbound I-295
Widens the southbound I-295 off-ramp from one lane to two lanes
Widens all off-ramp terminals from one lane to two lanes with the exception of southbound I-295 to eastbound Gate Parkway
Widens the northbound I-295 on-ramp to accept the dual left turn lanes from eastbound Gate Parkway
I-295 East and State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) Interchange
Widens northbound I-295 to the State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) ramp from two to three lanes
Widens northbound I-295 from two lanes to three lanes between the westbound State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) merge and the eastbound State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) merge with I-295
I-295 East and Town Center Parkway Interchange
Widens the northbound I-295 off-ramp to Town Center Parkway from one lane to two lanes
State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) and Kernan Boulevard Interchange
Signalizes both ramp termini intersections
Widens the eastbound State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) off-ramp from one lane to two lanes
Widens left turn lane from eastbound State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) off-ramp to NB Kernan Boulevard from one lane to two lanes
Widens the left turn lane from southbound Kernan to eastbound State Road 202 (JTB Blvd.) on-ramp from one lane to two lanes
Widens the eastbound SR 202 (JTB Blvd.) on-ramp from one lane to two lanes to receive the dual left turns. This ramp merges to a single-lane ramp prior to the gore to SR 202 (JTB Blvd.)
Widens right turn lane from SR 202 (JTB Blvd.) off-ramp to NB Kernan Boulevard from one lane to two lanes
SR 202 (JTB Blvd.) and Gate Parkway Interchange
Adds an auxiliary lane on WB SR 202 (JTB Blvd.) between NB I-295 East to WB SR 202 (JTB Blvd) ramp to Gate Parkway. This eliminates the merge on WB SR 202 (JTB Blvd.) between the NB I-295 East to WB SR 202 (JTB Blvd) ramp and the SB I-295 East to WB SR 202 (JTB Blvd) ramp
Widens the WB SR 202 (JTB Blvd.) off-ramp to Gate Parkway from one lane to two lanes so both auxiliary lanes can end at Gate Parkway interchange
For more information, visit: https://www.northfloridaexpress.com/Sr9BtoJTButlerBoulevard/Pages/Home.aspx
Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com
Next Page: I-295 East Beltway Renderings
Typical Roadway Cross Sections
Roadway Plans
I-295 Express Lanes Alternative - Interim
I-295 Express Lanes Alternative - Ultimate
article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com