Change Coming To MLK Parkway?

[Metro Jacksonville]

Change Coming To MLK Parkway?



Metro Jacksonville highlights the Florida Department of Transportation's plans to modify access to and from the MLK Parkway at Pearl, Main, and Liberty Streets.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-nov-change-coming-to-mlk-parkway

[JayBird]

Agreed that this is a very bad area on the Expressway. People trying to merge off and onto the roadway in such tight space, people in a rush mixing with lumbering trucks climbing the inclines of the expressway trying to connect from Talleyrand to 95 make it extremely dangerous and I am surprised major accidents have not already resulted.  Of course it would be nice if they were able to convert the closed ramps into some sort of open space greenway, hopefully they don't plan to just erect concrete barriers blocking off the ramps.  Also, I wonder if the local businesses at Pearl and Liberty would notice a decline because they lose that direct access that they have enjoyed.  I know the Station restaurant at Pearl and 21st would not be pleased, however safety trumps all in this case I believe.

[thelakelander]

In the plans shown, they don't really lose access.  The parallel service drives remain.  The only major difference I see is that drivers wanting to access them from MLK will have to stop at the Main Street light.

[I-10east]

I personally don't think that MLK Parkway's old school design is a big deal to worry about. I can't recall any significant accidents to deem ramps 'unsafe'. We live in a "modernize everything, even if it's not necessarily broken" society. I been though MLK a billion times, and never had any issues getting off and on Pearl, Main Boulevard etc. If an A-hole is determined to not let you in a merging area, it can happen on I-10 & Chafee, or Pearl & MLK.

[urbanlibertarian]

21st St. already makes a decent "frontage road".

[sheclown]

Don't like the idea.

I am there all the time.  I haven't seen accidents.  What are the numbers?  Is there proof that there is a safety issue?

Swisher uses the Liberty Street access a lot.  Tons of cars will be traveling to Main Street down side roads at 3:30 every day if the Liberty Street ramp closes.

[thelakelander]

^That would probably be the most significant impact that I can see.  You'd basically force Swisher's trucks and 2,000 employees to drive through neighborhood streets or clog the lights at Main Street by removing them.  Personally, I've never had a problem with the ramps either.  The one old Jax Expressway system ramp I was glad to see go was the I-95/McCoys Creek ramp.  That thing was crazy.

[Spence]

^
Indeed!
Just wish to see more trees larger than 3" caliper, and a better symbiotic solution worked with/for $wisher, along with perhaps aanotherpedestrian bridge.

[BackinJax05]

Ah, my old neighborhood. Although to this day I dont understand why they never built a full cloverleaf intersection at I-95 & 20th Street, or why the road was built with that God-awful curve between the railroad tracks & Phoenix Ave.

I also dont understand why it wasnt built as a full expressway. 20th Street goes all the way to New Kings Road, however, the expressway part ends at I-95. Guess it was more of Jacksonville doing things on the cheap. (I think I answered my own question)

[Bill Hoff]

Most of the feedback I've recieved prefers to keep the Liberty Street ramp open especially. Hope this happens.