Mathews Bridge Grating History

[Steve]

By Kyle Meenan
First Coast News

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- After years of accidents and thousands of bone-rattled complaints, drivers will never again have to drive across the metal grating on the Mathews Bridge.

Workers completed the Eastbound lanes Thursday night.

There was an eery silence just before seven o'clock, as all bridge traffic was diverted while construction crews painted lines and removed heavy equipment from the eastbound lanes.

Finally the contra-lane cones were set in place and history was made. The first passenger cars and trucks to drive on concrete the entire length of the bridge.

First Coast News spoke with about a dozen drivers at the first intersection at Liberty Street, and the response was unanimous approval of the new surface.

"Oh! It's a lot better than the grates. No rough riding. It's a smooth ride across the bridge!" smiled one man named Jerrell.

"It's kind of smooth. Yeah, I feel like they're doing a good job! It's real smooth going across!" said Tasha Williams.

Craig Anthony was the first motorcyclist to ride across the new surface.

"It felt much better! Much safer. Smoother. It's like going down the Buckman. Very nice!"

Everyone we spoke with who came across was smiling.

"I love it!" Shouted one woman as she rolled through the intersection.

"Thank God they finally took the grate out. Enough people have died already. Thank God. Good job, Jacksonville!"

Driver Steve Lockett summed up the feelings of many.

"It's pretty good! I like it! I mean, it makes things look a little safer now!"

In the coming weeks, crews will be removing the metal grating from the westbound lanes, then pouring the special lightweight concrete.

Though the initial ride heading west on the eastbound lanes was a bit dusty, riders are giving it an enthusiastic thumbs up.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=84316

[Steve]

I went over it today - kind of weird not to bounce around on top of the bridge

[chrissy]

I thought it was odd that the rest of the bridge feels bumpy now compared to the silky smooth new section!

[DetroitInJAX]

I wonder what the new speed limit will end up being...  If its higher, it might actually take care of some of that rush-hour traffic congestion we experience on the eastbound lanes.

[Seraphs]

It sort of makes you wonder, why didn't they do this years ago.  Also, does anyone know is the new Mathews bridge possible in say the next 30 years.  Even with the new smooth concrete verses the bouncy metal grating this bridge is seriously outdated.

[JUSTDAVE]

your point plus maybe there won't be a wreck everytime it rains (and sometimes without a cloud in the sky) will help traffic maybe even more than adding a lane

I wonder what the new speed limit will end up being...  If its higher, it might actually take care of some of that rush-hour traffic congestion we experience on the eastbound lanes.