I-95 Overland Bridge Project Revised

[Metro Jacksonville]

I-95 Overland Bridge Project Revised



The Overland Bridge replacement project will involve the expansion and rebuilding of a structurally deficient Interstate 95, between the Fuller Warren Bridge and San Diego Road.  Predicted to snarl urban Jacksonville traffic for years, the proposed $200 million project has a new FDOT project manager and new design that doesn't include bicycle facilities between San Marco and St. Nicholas.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-nov-i-95-overland-bridge-project-revised

[spuwho]

Any thoughts on how a future Skyway extension would pass through or beneath the new bridge? At the moment the end station is at or near the same height as the current bridge.

[Jason]

The line would just drop down enough to run beneath it.

[Tacachale]

The lack of bike access between San Marco and St. Nicholas should be a non-starter. And I can't tell, how will one get from the Main Street Bridge to San Marco?

[fieldafm]

If you are interested in petitioning FDOT to not to leave out design and installation of bicycle lanes and or bicycle facilities for the Overland Bridge Project at the interchange of I-95 and Atlantic Boulevard, the deadline for public comments in Friday, November 9, 2012. All interested persons are encouraged to contact or send an email to Craig Teal, P.E. at the Florida Department of Transportation.

Craig Teal, P.E., Project Manager
Florida Department of Transportation
1109 s Marion Avenue, MS 2002
Lake City, Fl 32025-5874
(386) 961.7703 or (800)749.2967
Craig.teal@dot.state.fl.us

This is very important, and I would urge everyone that reads this to take five minutes out of your day to email or call Mr Teal to express your thoughts on safe cycling access at this interchange.  This exit is going to be a big deal to the health of San Marco, St Nicholas and the Southbank and we have to get this right from the beginning.

[acme54321]

The lack of bike access between San Marco and St. Nicholas should be a non-starter. And I can't tell, how will one get from the Main Street Bridge to San Marco?

You have to get off at the southbank exit and take prudential or around to hendricks, kings, or san marco rd.

The aestetics of this are goign to be big. 

Issues I see:

Tree removal.  I'm sure they are going to level every tree on all of the parcels they took over with emminent domain.  Please write and request they only take what they have to.  A lot of trees along Atlantic and Southampton roads can be saved.

Ponds.  There are a ton of ponds here.  With the new plan they can put these ponds under the bridge like they have done in riverside.  These ponds create huge dead spaces.  Please mention this also.

Pedestrain connectivity.  What pedestrian facilities will be provided with this job?  They don't mention any.  The current sidewalk situation under that bridge sucks.  Cyclists/walkers get hit by cars there all the time.

[tufsu1]

The lack of bike access between San Marco and St. Nicholas should be a non-starter. And I can't tell, how will one get from the Main Street Bridge to San Marco?

You have to get off at the southbank exit and take prudential or around to hendricks, kings, or san marco rd.

the other option will be to follow the C/D road and get off at the new Atlantic/Philips exit...and then enter San Marco via Atlantic

of course, one could also just shift from the Main St Bridge to the Acosta Bridge

[dougskiles]

The lack of bike access between San Marco and St. Nicholas should be a non-starter. And I can't tell, how will one get from the Main Street Bridge to San Marco?

You have to get off at the southbank exit and take prudential or around to hendricks, kings, or san marco rd.

The aestetics of this are goign to be big. 

Issues I see:

Tree removal.  I'm sure they are going to level every tree on all of the parcels they took over with emminent domain.  Please write and request they only take what they have to.  A lot of trees along Atlantic and Southampton roads can be saved.

Ponds.  There are a ton of ponds here.  With the new plan they can put these ponds under the bridge like they have done in riverside.  These ponds create huge dead spaces.  Please mention this also.

Pedestrain connectivity.  What pedestrian facilities will be provided with this job?  They don't mention any.  The current sidewalk situation under that bridge sucks.  Cyclists/walkers get hit by cars there all the time.

Great points.  SMPS and SNAP sent emails out to their members asking them to comment.  The most concerning to me is the pedestrian/bicycle connectivity between San Marco & St. Nicholas.  I feel safer riding my bike from San Marco Square to 5 Points than I do from San Marco Square to St Nicholas Town Center.

[Ocklawaha]

Any thoughts on how a future Skyway extension would pass through or beneath the new bridge? At the moment the end station is at or near the same height as the current bridge.

Now that they've decided to use bridges rather then fill, the only change will probably be fresh concrete in place of old concrete. One would think that FDOT/JTA/USDOT absolutely have to know that the Skyway will SOMEDAY go south of Kings Avenue Station in which case the current scenario would be duplicated. THE FUTURE SKYWAY UNDERPASS COULD STAY THE SAME, HOWEVER NEVER EXPECT FDOT/JTA/USDOT TO THINK!

We need to lean hard on these "public servants" that they absolutely, positively, MUST consider pedestrians and bicyclists, not just on the Overland Bridge, but in ANY improvement at the JTB and I-95 interchange also.

I might be helpful if our on line and contributing planners, architects and engineers would throw some ideas up on the site for consideration. Personally I'd like to see us lobby for a network of bike/pedestrian primary routes radiating out from the central city to the distant reaches of the county. As an example, Philips Highway doesn't even have sidewalks much south of Emerson. So for starters we add a 12',  mixed use, bi-directional trail down one side of the highway from Wal-Mart to Race Track Road. Similar paths along Beach, Atlantic, University, Roosevelt, Blanding/Park, Edgewood/Norwood, Post/Normandy, Cassatt, Moncrief/MLK, Dunn, Main, Hecksher and maybe Merrill Roads. Add these to the few already in service such as the Baldwin Rail-Trail and the Kernan Trail. From these arterials connector trails would quickly create a comprehensive network. None of this will ever happen unless we can get the same type of action that we got for the Mobility Plan Sunsetting.

One last thought on the FREEway project. If the high carbon content of the soils below the bridge destroyed the piers, how much extra will it cost to remove it? On the surface the bridge might appear cheaper to build, but over the life of the project, sinking those bents into that same old railroad coal terminal yard, will likely have the same result.

[Timkin]

  Noticed buildings demolished all the way to the Doll House on Atlantic and it looks like its next .

[Ocklawaha]

  Noticed buildings demolished all the way to the Doll House on Atlantic and it looks like its next .

That place reminds me of a certain old house of ill repute in Sanford. Before the new owners could start the restoration they had to have a pest control company come out and tent it...  I later heard they pumped it full of Penicillin!

[Timkin]

I think it should be torched.   Would make demolition a lot easier !

[Noone]

I've submitted my concerns to Mr. Teal and they are now part of the permanent record.

[tufsu1]

  Noticed buildings demolished all the way to the Doll House on Atlantic and it looks like its next .

The Doll House has closed...and yes, it will be demolished soon

[leahg]

Thank you for sharing this! I just sent my letter to Mr. Teal and have asked friends, family, and neighbors to as well.

I live in st. Nicholas in the neighborhood behind Havana Jax. My husband and I ride bikes to and from San Marco frequently for leisure and often as transportation to work (we both work in San Marco). As the buildings started coming down along Atlantic these past two weeks, I could tell our "bike path" would be gone as well before too long. Aside from loving my bike rides to San Marco, eliminating the bike and pedestrian paths will affect schools, community centers, nonprofit organizations, and countless small businesses that provide services to both of these communities. I hope this decision can be reconsidered!!

On a side note, someone mentioned SNAP.... is this a St. Nicholas area group? I've been trying to find something like this since moving to the area and have only found outdated websites. Is there group that anyone can connect me with? Thank you!