I-95 Overland Bridge Project Expands

[fsujax]

Lake you aware that we are dealing with FDOT District 2, right? Maybe someone should show up at the public meeting and ask about the Commuter Rail Demo project. Would be nice to get an official response.

[Ocklawaha]

Great idea fsujax, this WOULD be a great time to install a commuter rail demonstration. Our biggest obstacle may be stations or the lack thereof, yet after the earthquakes in LA we got Metrolink up and running in days, stopping a crossings. A downtown platform and bus pick up area would be about the only "construction" that would need to be done. As they are standard to the industry, one of our local railroads such as the FEC, might be willing to put a couple of RDC cars to bed each night...

Bravo on the interchange boys and girls, we have NEEDED a Southbound connection to and from Atlantic since about 1961... Go for it...

OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

Sorry, I meant west.  At the intersection of Atlantic and Kings, the road is being widened to seven lanes.  The building currently being renovated into a doctor's office would be demolished to fit in the extra lanes.  Parallel parking is also being removed to accommodate more traffic lanes between Kings and the FEC tracks.  I believe this is overkill.

Looks like they want to make that part of Kings 2-way...currently it just serves as a 1-way ramp to Philips.

Eastbound they are proposing 1 left turn lane, 2 throughs, and a dedicated right turn lane....they could probably lose the dedicated right and just have a shared thru/right lane...westbound lanes are as is.

[tufsu1]

Bravo on the interchange boys and girls, we have NEEDED a Southbound connection to and from Atlantic since about 1961... Go for it...[/b]
OCKLAWAHA

you mean northbound?

[acme54321]

I think he means a northbound exit from 95 and a southbound onramp to 95.

[simms3]

Wow didn't know about the 7 lanes for Atlantic.  That does sound like overkill.  I agree Lake, let's quit building in the core for suburban arterial traffic and start setting precedence for bike lanes and wider sidewalks.  There does not need to be a dedicated right turn lane (that only gets really backed up with people turning right when there is a train).

Also to those who think this is yet again a waste of money, I urge you to do a little research on the structural integrity of the bridge that is currently there.  I think it has a C or D rating from the engineers, and once it gets down to F (which would not be in too long) it runs the risk of collapsing at any point.  This is a perfect example of our nation's "crumbling" infrastructure and why the government (feds definitely included) need to spend a lot of money on infrastructure in the next decade.  Infrastructure planning and construction was one of the federal government's only three original jobs in the first place outside of foreign diplomacy and national defense, so even the Founding Fathers realized it was a role for the central government.  Trust me, the City of Jacksonville is not forking over $195M, and probably not forking over a dime actually for this project.  It's all FDOT, who's purse is controlled in part by the gas tax and in part by federal dollars.

[reednavy]

Earlier this year, I clearly remember near disaster when a HOLE, not pothole, an actual HOLE opened up in the far left lane on the SB side of the bridge near Hendricks.

Is this needed, you bet, should it be done in phases to ease overall craziness, yes.

[thelakelander]

Looks like they want to make that part of Kings 2-way...currently it just serves as a 1-way ramp to Philips.

Are duel left turn lanes from Atlantic westbound to Kings southbound really needed?  If not, according to the aerial, a two way can be accommodated with a single southbound lane instead of two.

Eastbound they are proposing 1 left turn lane, 2 throughs, and a dedicated right turn lane....they could probably lose the dedicated right and just have a shared thru/right lane...westbound lanes are as is.

Considering the context, I wonder what's wrong with having one eastbound left turn lane and a shared thru/right turn lane.  Westbound, only one lane should do and a lane diet to Hendricks/San Marco Square should be considered.  Revised plans also indicate a paved median, which will result in the elimination of existing parallel parking.  It also doesn't appear that bike lanes are even being considered.  

What would be so wrong in designing Atlantic Boulevard with a higher pedestrian oriented focus over the automobile.  It's not like traffic backs up now and San Marco is already pretty much built out.  If there is any area in the Southside where complete streets considerations should be given and attempted, it's got to be San Marco.

[Ocklawaha]

Bravo on the interchange boys and girls, we have NEEDED a Southbound connection to and from Atlantic since about 1961... Go for it...
OCKLAWAHA

you mean northbound?

A direct connection (ramps) to and from south I-95 from Atlantic, currently there is no way to access the FREEway heading south from Atlantic, nor an exit onto Atlantic from the northbound lanes. The distributor lanes are also desperately needed by such investments as the parking garage, Hilton, etc.. These lanes if they carry to a connection with Gary Street might also offer a hospital connection for JTA's brt. I am not too concerned about the number of lanes in this area as it IS and probably always will be a choke point, whatever they build-we'll fill it.

OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

Are duel left turn lanes from Atlantic westbound to Kings southbound really needed?  If not, according to the aerial, a two way can be accommodated with a single southbound lane instead of two.

don't know what the traffic forecasts are, but it is possible they are needed...reason being that the stacking distance is quite short, meaning that 2 short LT lanes is like the same as 1 long LT lane....plus the one lane leads to I-95 SB, while the other becomes the "ramp" to Philips.

[David]

Once construciton is complete, will there be any access to 95 NB if you're coming from the west side of Atlantic?

[thelakelander]

Yes.  You'll have to make a right on Kings and make a left at the stop light immediately south of that intersection.

[fieldafm]

This is interesting(especially b/c eminent domain may be needed for additional ROW access).  I am planning on attending the meeting Tuesday.  Anybody want to head down to the location before the meeting and do some workshopping with these proposed plans in hand to get a more visual idea of the plan's implications and possible enhancements visa vis Lake's ideas about improved pedestrian/bike access?

[tufsu1]

Yes.  You'll have to make a right on Kings and make a left at the stop light immediately south of that intersection.

correct....the existing NB on-ramp will take you onto the proposed C/D road which will lead to downtown.

[spuwho]

Will any accommodation be made for the Skyway to continue on in the future?  Can't go under the bridge today and even if they raise it, there is a hotel & parking garage in the way.  That means they would have to put a riser gap in the rebuilt section for it to slip through and continue. What say the planners?