The First Coast Expressway Takes Shape

[Metro Jacksonville]

The First Coast Expressway Takes Shape



The first phase of the First Coast Expressway continues to advance between  I-10 in West Jacksonville and Blanding Boulevard in Clay County. Here's a look at what you'll find driving along this construction zone today.

Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2015-sep-the-first-coast-expressway-takes-shape

[RattlerGator]

It will be interesting to see the transformation of that entire area -- the West / Southwest (Marietta, Chaffee Road, etc.) and the South / Southwest (Orange Park, Lake Asbury, etc.) -- ten years from now.

[thelakelander]

I'll be interested to see how toll revenue stacks up to dollars needed to maintain the facility. Development-wise, I'm pretty sure new development will be more of the same that's already been sprouting up in the general area. Low density residential with strip commercial centered around most interchanges. The commercial will be what you already see at Blanding and Chaffee and on Argyle Forest. Eventually, over time, you'll see additional industrial development near I-10. Clay residents in that area will still have to commute into Duval for white collar and industrial jobs.

[tufsu1]

This is so exciting!!!

[Jason]

Look at all that beautiful CONCRETE!!!!!   

[coredumped]

Is directing more people around and outside of our city such a great idea? Even people passing though spend money on gas and food. It would be nice if we could keep some of that money flowing in, and heck, we already have an outer beltway.

[spuwho]

We have alot of concrete being poured this year.

-FCE Expressway
-9B/I-795
-Overland Bridge Project
-I95/JTB Interchange
-I295/Hecksher Road/Jaxport Rail Terminal

Coming up we have:

-Fuller Warren Upgrades
-9B Extension to St Johns Parkway
-I795 Interchange with Davis Development

We are certainly getting our share of highway dollars along with Orlando.

[JaxJersey-licious]

I really don't get the logic of the creation of this tollway. It's not like there are traffic counts in the area that would warrant an expressway-like road parallel to what is there already. There is definitely growth there but not near the numbers of what northern St. Johns County is putting up. And how many of these conservative-leaning Clay County commuters would be so welcoming of this additional "tax" to have easy access to Whitehouse? But this is the real kicker - you will have a number of multiple-axle trucks that could pay significant tolls utilizing this road servicing Cecil Commerce Center, but apparently this road will be toll-free up to New World Ave. which <duh> happens to be the damn ENTRANCE of CCC!! This road may not make up the money to pay for the toll collection system for the highway much less maintain the highway, at least not for about a decade or so. This could end up being the Westside equivalent of the Commodore Point Expressway and Skyway (Can't get enough people to help fund your overpriced, underutilized transportation behemoth? Then why not make it free, and try to hold in your laughter when someone considers "expansion" of said white elephant project). 

What should be considered are tolls on the entire I-795 extension: Why should we incentivize visitors to bypass this fair city in the first place?

[RattlerGator]

I can always count on the road construction venom-ites on MetroJacksonville.

[southsider1015]

I can always count on the road construction venom-ites on MetroJacksonville.

Yup.

[thelakelander]

^Southsider1015, do you have any idea why most of the existing streets are being rebuilt as overpasses at the interchanges, as opposed to the FCE going over them? It was the opposite with toll roads like the Polk Parkway and 417, when they were built in the 90s.

[southsider1015]

^Southsider1015, do you have any idea why most of the existing streets are being rebuilt as overpasses at the interchanges, as opposed to the FCE going over them? It was the opposite with toll roads like the Polk Parkway and 417, when they were built in the 90s.

The winning Design-Build Team, Dragados (an enormous international construction contractor) proposed to reconstruct all the side streets over FCX.  No other DB Team proposed this, and FDOTs consultants never intended for this.  The estimates all showed that putting FCX over the side streets was cheaper and easier for MOT, existing utilities, etc.  They sold it like it was better than what the original concept proposed.  FDOT allowed it for the North project, but prevented it on the South Project.  Dragados also won this segment too.

Not too much different from an operations and safety standpoint.  Mostly aesthetics.

[southsider1015]

Also, they won't be done by Summer 2016.  No way, no how.  They are so far behind.  They should have all the bridges done, and should be wrapping up the paving.  They still need to put up the lighting, overhead signs, ITS, DMS signs, and toll gantries.  My guess is another 6 months to a year, best case. 

Also, the few pictures you have on the bridges over the creek...that's South Prong Double Branch, and I believe it flows south into Little Black Creek, and eventually into Black Creek.  Not McGirts Creek.  I could be wrong though!

[southsider1015]

I'll be interested to see how toll revenue stacks up to dollars needed to maintain the facility. Development-wise, I'm pretty sure new development will be more of the same that's already been sprouting up in the general area. Low density residential with strip commercial centered around most interchanges. The commercial will be what you already see at Blanding and Chaffee and on Argyle Forest. Eventually, over time, you'll see additional industrial development near I-10. Clay residents in that area will still have to commute into Duval for white collar and industrial jobs.

I think we all will be.  I do hope that the landowners and developers do more than what it's already been built out there at Oakleaf.  More variety and options, price points, densities/intensities, and more value. 

Once the future sections get going, we'll hear more about the future DRIs in Clay County that should be pretty interesting, as well as the connectivity it'll provide thru the heart of St. Johns County.

[thelakelander]

Also, they won't be done by Summer 2016.  No way, no how.  They are so far behind.  They should have all the bridges done, and should be wrapping up the paving.  They still need to put up the lighting, overhead signs, ITS, DMS signs, and toll gantries.  My guess is another 6 months to a year, best case. 

Also, the few pictures you have on the bridges over the creek...that's South Prong Double Branch, and I believe it flows south into Little Black Creek, and eventually into Black Creek.  Not McGirts Creek.  I could be wrong though!

Thanks. I'll correct that caption.