SR 9B Costs!

[fsujax]

So $63 million for 1.3 miles of road is OK? funny how there is no outcry at this expense!

From the TU
According to the department: "Plans are to continue building State Road 9B from where it will end at US 1 once the current construction project is complete to Interstate 95 which will include an interchange with full access to I-95, a total of 1.3 miles. The project is currently funded in FDOT fiscal year 2014/15. Estimated costs are $63 million."

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400669/jeff-brumley/2011-10-19/9b-extension-i-95-topic-thursday-dot-workshop?cid=hp-justin

[02roadking]

That can't be right.

[02roadking]

63 mil has got to be the entire project from 9A to I95

[fsujax]

the article says US 1 to I-95, I think the costs are high because of the interchange, that will have to be constructed.

[Jdog]

Costs are about:
68 million for section from 9A to Phillips Highway.
36 million for the 9B and Phillips Highway interchange.
43 million for section from Phillips Highway to I-95 with the relating interstate exchange included.

[acme54321]

I don't see the benefit of building this road at all.

[Doctor_K]

Ditto.  Useless and a waste of money and time.

[thelakelander]

The selling economic benefits are short term construction-based job creation and opening land up for more long term development.  I have a bridge to sell anybody who believes the main purpose is to relieve traffic gridlock.  It's one of those things we continue to subsidize under the ponzi scheme growth based economic structure we've embraced over the last few decades.

[Ocklawaha]

True Lake.

There is a need for a direct route south from the port that bypasses the current 9-A / 295 interchange for the benefit of truck container traffic.

There is often a large bottleneck running from Old St Augustine Road to the interchange, both northbound and southbound stack up pretty badly during rush hours.

Orange Park traffic has almost taken over the current interchange, again gridlock during those hours.

There is no access from 95 to Racetrack road and it's not all about new land development, Julington Creek Plantation and the Bartram projects back right up to or nearly up to 95. These people currently must use San Jose through Mandarin or drive Greenland Road to Phillips Highway to get into town. This interchange would give them an much better access to Duval.

The economic and traffic benefits are myriad, however, they fall far short of what should be a cost-benefit limitation. You'd think the slick headed governor would be all over this with his tea party buddies... CHIRP, chirp.

For this same $150 million we could easily build a basic 15 mile light-rail/streetcar system.

OCKLAWAHA

[thelakelander]

True Lake.

There is a need for a direct route south from the port that bypasses the current 9-A / 295 interchange for the benefit of truck container traffic.

Put those containers on rail.

There is often a large bottleneck running from Old St Augustine Road to the interchange, both northbound and southbound stack up pretty badly during rush hours.

That's caused by Bartram Park's layout of one way in, one way out.  An interchange at Race Track Road would handle that situation.

Orange Park traffic has almost taken over the current interchange, again gridlock during those hours.

I'd ask, why was the I-295/I-95 interchange not designed for higher capacity?  After all, its not even 10 years old.  Furthermore, it would still be cheaper to expand an existing flyover ramp than it would be to construct a new highway and multiple flyovers.

There is no access from 95 to Racetrack road and it's not all about new land development, Julington Creek Plantation and the Bartram projects back right up to or nearly up to 95. These people currently must use San Jose through Mandarin or drive Greenland Road to Phillips Highway to get into town. This interchange would give them an much better access to Duval.

I'd say both Julington Creek and Bartram Park should be considered new developments that aren't built out.  However, if you wanted to deal with their traffic issues, a simple interchange at Race Track Road, along with a few more local street connections will do that.

The economic and traffic benefits are myriad, however, they fall far short of what should be a cost-benefit limitation. You'd think the slick headed governor would be all over this with his tea party buddies... CHIRP, chirp.

I'm actually okay with people admitting they want to fund some of these projects for self preservation related reasons.  At least that's an honest argument.  I just hate seeing terms like traffic relief, increasing the tax base, hurricane evacuation, etc. being tossed out there when half of these projects make those issues worse.

[Ocklawaha]

I'm good on everything you've said Lake, merely pointing out that there are reasons to build these things albeit weak ones at best. Hell if I had my way we'd all have streetcar lines in grassy landscaped parkways instead of asphalt.

OCKLAWAHA

[thelakelander]

Of course.  I'm not saying there isn't a valid reason for several projects.  However, I am openly questioning why we always end up selecting the most expensive alternative, only to turn around a few short years later, with a more expensive follow up?

[tufsu1]

the article says US 1 to I-95, I think the costs are high because of the interchange, that will have to be constructed.

correct...it is all flyover ramps...but keep in mind they are only building a ;partial interchange

[thelakelander]

Will this partial interchange tie in with Race Track Road to provide a second I-95 access point for local traffic in the area?

[Jdog]

No...that will come later in the third construction segment.