QuoteSan Marco improvements to challenge businesses with detours and dust
By Kevin Turner
Two Jacksonville businesses are bracing for Monday, when a road detour and construction dust promising to cloud their entrances for months begins.
As part of the San Marco Streetscape project, the city is giving San Marco Boulevard the now-standard historic area facelift â€" complete with replica historic streetlights and brick pavers â€" as the street is reconstructed.
But until February 2011, when the project is estimated to be completed, San Marco will be torn up between Gary and Cedar streets and will allow only northbound traffic. Southbound traffic will be routed west along Gary Street, south on Palm Avenue and then back east to San Marco on Cedar Street.
full article: http://jacksonville.com/business/2010-09-22/story/san-marco-improvements-challenge-businesses-detours-and-dust
Taking bets on the February, 2011, deadline being made. That's about 5 months to do this road. I don't see it. Expect them to trot out the usual excuses about unexpected obstacles. How long did Hendricks take vs. its schedule? I hope I am pleasantly surprised but I have serious doubts.
stjr............I'm riding on your train with this one! I wonder just where the City came up with this money from? I haven't seen much in the way of planning and cost projections for this one..............has anyone else?
Quote from: CS Foltz on September 23, 2010, 06:38:51 AM
stjr............I'm riding on your train with this one! I wonder just where the City came up with this money from? I haven't seen much in the way of planning and cost projections for this one..............has anyone else?
There was an article on it a while back. It's about time this got rolling!
Quote from: CS Foltz on September 23, 2010, 06:38:51 AM
stjr............I'm riding on your train with this one! I wonder just where the City came up with this money from? I haven't seen much in the way of planning and cost projections for this one..............has anyone else?
This was supposed to start in March of this year. Funding had already been taken care of at that point. I'm not sure what caused the delay.
Are they going to working on this at the same time the demolition/reconstruction of the overland bridge portion of I-95 is going on? If so then it's going to add insult to injury.
This should be done before anything happens with the Overland Bridge.
Quote from: CS Foltz on September 23, 2010, 06:38:51 AM
stjr............I'm riding on your train with this one! I wonder just where the City came up with this money from? I haven't seen much in the way of planning and cost projections for this one..............has anyone else?
CS, don't know about this specific project but in all probability, the city latched onto green-space grants to do this. Almost all of these projects are funded at least in part by grants and not all of the grants are federal or state handouts. When I was a city councilman we actually had thousands of grants we could apply for from every type of trust, charity, industry, etc... they choose either to give it to the government or make an investment in the community. I mean, really, do you want all new trash cans? Bet there is a grant for that. Want new park swings? Bet there is a grant for that. Want new pavement reflectors? Bet there is a grant for that. Want something big like green space and pedestrian friendly streets? Guaranteed that there are a thousand grants for that too. Usually its just a matter of matching your wants and desires with what is being offered. For example: We want all new bike racks, certain specs, and orange in color. There is a bike grant from "Bike America" for their standard BLUE bike racks which look pretty damn urban... Gee, what to do?
See what I mean?OCKLAWAHA
Ock........I see the direction you traveling on this one! Grants are good, free money .....kinda and I have no problem with that! Wish that the Main Street upgrade had been done in that manner, but what the heck, it is done now! Beats the heck out of Federal or State money, which is our tax money, and maybe we should have a "Department of Grants" galloping after this kind of funding instead of using our tax money for most everything? If its there, what the heck.......make use of it.......invest in the community! This makes me wonder just why we are not looking for this.......green-space grants should be pretty wide in their pervue....so why not?
wow thanks CS....you are right, grants are free money...they are never sponsored by governments (i.e., taxes) ;)
tufsu..........I understand all about "Grants" which are not even close to something say... like the JEDC or DVI are involved in! That is our tax money at work and you know just how I feel about the taxpayers money being handed out willy nilly! Grants are a whole nother thing and good overall for those that not only apply but are granted! I guess my question should............why is COJ not pursuing that kind of funding? Green Spaces, urban enhancements, rail and the whole host of possibilities? There are strings attached but just from the organization that provides them............too bad Vescor could not have gotten grants to do what they did downtown instead of going through JEDC huh? Ten year moratorium on payments, interest only and who is holding the bag if the market does not pick up in the next ten years..............us taxpayers!
um...they have been and continue to...in fact, the City got some HUD grants recently, Duval schools just got one (announced today), and JTA has applied for several in the last few years
Detouring and signage is a mess.
When trying to get to Hendricks Ave. via the Main St. Bridge....
Main St. Bridge is blocked by cop. Detour signs direct traffic west and disappear. Next best bet is Acosta...
Blocked by poorly directing traffic cop. Next best bet is Acosta from Riverside (didn't see 95 south signage)...
Turned down Forrest only to be blocked by unoccupied Police SUV, forced to drive into oncoming traffic (only a bus and couple cars, but still!) Next best bet is 95 South from Five Points...
Take San Marco Blvd exit, didn't see a detour sign at all, myself and other confused drivers 3 point turned on dead end street across from off ramp. Took Prudential to Hendricks. Thank god I beat rush hour.
Does this streetscaping involve the highway that runs next to 95, or any of it's exits? Otherwise I feel like this is a elaborate joke for traffic cops to laugh about...
I haven't had any problems getting to Hendricks from the Man St Bridge....I do it several times a week
Zachary: Did you know if you just stay in the left lane like you're going to I-95 south you can hop off later directly onto Hendricks?? It's a really quick and easy way to get from downtown to San Marco. It definitely beats getting off at Riverplace blvd.
Quote from: Captain Zissou on October 08, 2010, 11:00:01 AM
Zachary: Did you know if you just stay in the left lane like you're going to I-95 south you can hop off later directly onto Hendricks?? It's a really quick and easy way to get from downtown to San Marco. It definitely beats getting off at Riverplace blvd.
at least until they start the I-95 Overland Bridge project....they will be eliminating that connection to reduce weaving issues (the hendricks off-ramp will still be accessible from the Acosta Bridge)