The First Coast Expressway Takes Shape
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/4384871013_LgxMsch-L.jpg)
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
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.
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.
This is so exciting!!!
Look at all that beautiful CONCRETE!!!!! :)
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.
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.
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?
I can always count on the road construction venom-ites on MetroJacksonville.
Quote from: RattlerGator on September 28, 2015, 05:44:00 PM
I can always count on the road construction venom-ites on MetroJacksonville.
Yup.
^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.
Quote from: thelakelander on September 28, 2015, 08:30:52 PM
^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.
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!
Quote from: thelakelander on September 28, 2015, 07:06:27 AM
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.
Quote from: southsider1015 on September 28, 2015, 08:50:24 PM
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.
I just don't understand why people continue to want to live with long commutes and the traffic that comes with them. Is their personal/family time not worth anything to them?
Quote from: Kerry on October 12, 2015, 12:59:45 PM
I just don't understand why people continue to want to live with long commutes and the traffic that comes with them. Is their personal/family time not worth anything to them?
I agree, but I think it's a snowball effect. People don't want to live where the property values are low and there's blight, so they move out, which causes low property values and blight.
I drove the FCE ROW today to see not only the current construction underway, but traversed through Asbury, Green Cove and where the proposed routes east of the river are projected to go.
FCE south of the Duval/Clay line is moving along very quickly but other than the span at New World, not as far along in Duval.
I also noticed that FDOT contractors have already started the 9B extension from Race Track to St Johns Parkway. Tree removal appears to be in progess and I saw other clearing equipment being staged.
The roadway concept took shape decades ago. Driven by Booster Development aspirations.
Federal US Army Corps of Engineers Colonel Joe Miller called me the day of Brannon Chaffee grand opening,to apologize. He would later cycle to City Of Jacksonville Delaney Administration Public Works Director-for a short time. Mayor Delaney's hand is solidly placed on key Brannon Chaffee permitting process, an acknowledged key Beltway link,even though permitting parameters assumed 'stand alone' project.
The Clay mantra is- skip Duval and the 'commute'. Live and work in Clay.
See Brannon Chaffee Sector Plan,Lake Asbury Sector Plan for hint to project "Driver",future Growth. Genesis Planning Group centrally involved either as County selected agent (BC)....or land owner representative (LA). Clay county Planner(s) cycling through the department an interesting story in itself. But who really cares? 8)
(There were two attempts at Lake Asbury Sector Plan- the first nearly ended up in effective citizen opposition to the Beltway,the entire process put in "time out" for a period)
I personally harbored many concerns, opposition arguments,along with certain "Justice" aspects relating to the erroneous, and fantastically successful promotions of a future Brannon/Chaffee (beltway) as an "Alternate" to Blanding Blvd..,congestion relief.
In the end,via the Florida Wildlife Federation I was able to muster realignment out of the Ravines Conservation Area.The roadway alignment is gerrymandered quite a bit from it's original graceful ark through Reinhold Corp. lands envisioned in the 1973 Clay Local Government Act future roadways map.
And I also warn some as to what the future landscape would be,even though their 'conservative' County Commission friends were telling them,"Don't worry about it,it's twenty years down the road."For some,the insight has proven priceless.
No doubt,when built,others will flock!
Down the road!! Perhaps the most controversial Beltway sections can be named in honor of Mayor Delaney. The Beltway experience may have decidedly dashed John Delaney's future political aspirations.