Resurfacing project begins on Interstate 95

[thelakelander]

The Florida Department of Transportation has begun installing noise walls and repairing the  pavement on Interstate 95 from Atlantic to Butler boulevards.

This $12.4 million project is scheduled to conclude in early 2013. FDOT also plans to replace 14 highway signs.

This is separate from a $186 million replacement of an elevated portion of I-95 over Hendricks, King and Montana avenues, which is scheduled to begin in 2013.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400669/larry-hannan/2011-03-02/resurfacing-project-begins-interstate-95-between

[Jumpinjack]

I'm confused. Are they resurfacing the part that will be torn down soon?

[acme54321]

No this is south of that.

[fsujax]

$198.4 million for maintenance. Where's the outrage?? Oh I forgot its a road.

[thelakelander]

^It is kind of funny how people tend to view major projects.  $2.4 billion ($28.6 million/mile) for an 84-mile, double tracked, electrified rail line connecting 3 metro areas with a combined six million residents is a national boondoggle but $1.8 billion ($40 million/mile) for a 45-mile Outer Beltway for rural stretches of Clay and St. Johns Counties is a sound infrastructure investment. Go figure.

I don't know why the concept of using this HSR track infrastructure for both HSR and commuter rail (or even for freight rail overnight) and spurring dense TOD zones hasn't been publicly discussed.  Its not every day that the feds offer a hand out like this.  If we we're smart, we'd be planning on getting the most utilization out of an infrastructure gift like this, instead of making ourselves look like fools to the rest of civilized society.

Anyway, I guess I'll have to endure some more congested daily commutes, with this project getting underway.  Anyone interested in buying a Southside condo?

[Doctor_K]

All I can say is, thank goodness I'm ten minutes away from either the studio or my office, and my commute never, ever involves I-95.

(shudder)

[urbanlibertarian]

Looks like they're also installing a noise wall beside I95 between Edgewood and Lem Turner.