Jacksonville, FL (July 30, 2019) — Shortly after completing the express lanes on I-295 West Beltway near the Buckman Bridge and with a year left on the I-295 East Express Lane Project, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced an additional enhancement to the east project that will have drivers throughout Northeast Florida seeing construction cones for a little while longer.
FDOT announced in a press release on July 30th that additional regular general use type lanes will be added to the current project, adding additional capacity to this already very busy part of our highway system. The initial Express Lane Project is still under construction and was expected to finish in Fall of 2020, but with all the growth happening throughout Jacksonville, FDOT District Two Secretary Greg Evans said these additional lanes cannot wait.
“As our region continues to grow, FDOT will seek opportunities that bring congestion relief to drivers – sooner rather than later. Through Governor Ron Antipodes’ and Secretary Thibault’s leadership, FDOT will develop solutions for the most complex challenges on the roadway,” said FDOT District Two Secretary Greg Evans. “Drivers should spend their time doing what they want to do. We’re confident the additional capacity will offer drivers congestion relief and get them where they want to go.”
The current express lane project includes the construction of two additional 12-foot tolled express lanes in each direction, as well as, an additional general use lane along portions of the highway, several noise walls along I-295 in various locations, drainage ponds, and the installation of several electronic tolling systems, which will be placed in various locations to collect tolls.
FDOT explained where the extra lanes will be added in July’s press release, which reads:
“I-295 between Baymeadows Road and J. Turner Butler Boulevard (SR 202) will see an additional lane and ramp improvements along portions of the corridor. The interchange at Gate Parkway and J. Turner Butler Boulevard will see improvements as part of the announcement.
The additional capacity will extend construction along the corridor to Fall 2020, weather and unforeseen circumstances permitting. The project team is currently exploring the possibility of opening an additional lane of I-295, if safety requirements can be maintained and work can safely occur.
The Express Lanes Project from State Road 9B to J. Turner Butler Boulevard began in 2016 and is a $160 million project.”
The express lanes are optional travel lines for drivers to use, at their choosing and convenience, for a “more predictable travel time.” The tolled express lanes found on major interstates or toll roads. They are designed to serve the lengthier and more extensive travel design and have few entrances and exit locations to serve longer, more regional trips. Customers must have an active and properly mounted SunPass or another interoperable transponder, as no cash or TOLL-BY-PLATE is accepted in the express lanes.”
The I-295 East Project Includes:
- Construction of two additional 12-foot travel lanes (tolled express lanes) in each direction.
- An additional general use lane along portions of the roadway.
- Construction noise walls along I-295 in various locations.
- Building drainage ponds.
- Install electronic tolling systems at various locations to collect tolls.
The two access points for the two northbound express lanes will be at State Road 9B and I-295 between Philips Highway and State Road 9B. The two access points for the two southbound express lanes will be just north of J. Turner Butler Blvd. Bridge, and just south of the Gate Parkway interchange off-ramp. Traffic entering from Gate Parkway and Baymeadows Rd. will not have access to the express lanes.
Northbound direction
On northbound I-295, a single express lane opens 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.
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 J. Turner Butler Boulevard. 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. This single express lane merges with the I-295 general use lanes just north of the I-295/J. Turner Butler Boulevard Bridge.
Southbound direction
In southbound I-295, a single express lane opens just north of the J. Turner Butler Boulevard bridge. A second express lane begins just south of the Gate Parkway Interchange off-ramp.
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 project will make the following improvements along I-295 and nearby interchanges:
I-295 East General-Purpose Lanes
Adds an additional general use lane along portions of the roadway.
Widens southbound I-295 to eliminate the lane drop at the merge of southbound I-295 and J. Turner Butler Boulevard and provide four general use lanes from J. Turner Butler Boulevard 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 J. Turner Butler Boulevard Interchange
Widens northbound I-295 to the J. Turner Butler Boulevard ramp from two to three lanes
Widens northbound I-295 from two lanes to three lanes between the westbound J. Turner Butler Boulevard merge and the eastbound J. Turner Butler Boulevard 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.
J. Turner Butler Boulevard and Kernan Boulevard Interchange.
Installs traffic signals at both ramp intersections.
Widens the eastbound J. Turner Butler Boulevard off-ramp from one lane to two lanes.
Widens left turn lane from eastbound J. Turner Butler Boulevard off-ramp to northbound Kernan Boulevard from one lane to two lanes.
Widens the left turn lane from southbound Kernan to eastbound J. Turner Butler on-ramp from one lane to two lanes.
Widens the eastbound J. Turner Butler Boulevard 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 J. Turner Butler Boulevard.
Widens right turn lane from J. Turner Butler Boulevard off-ramp to northbound Kernan Boulevard from one lane to two lanes.
J. Turner Butler Boulevard and Gate Parkway Interchange
Adds an auxiliary lane on westbound J. Turner Butler Boulevard between northbound I-295 East to westbound J. Turner Butler Boulevard ramp to Gate Parkway. This eliminates the merge on westbound J. Turner Butler Boulevard between the northbound I-295 East to westbound J. Turner Butler Boulevard ramp and the southbound I-295 East to westbound J. Turner Butler Boulevard ramp.
Widens the westbound J. Turner Butler Boulevard off-ramp to Gate Parkway from one lane to two lanes so both auxiliary lanes can end at Gate Parkway interchange.
Summary
The addition of the two express lanes in each direction, additional general use lanes on I-295, improvements to the Baymeadows Road interchange, Gate Parkway interchange and the J. Turner Butler Boulevard interchange will be accommodated within the existing I-295 right-of-way. However, additional right-of-way will be required for storm water ponds. In addition, the project will provide noise walls for noise abatement.