Timuquana Bridge

[David]

Does anyone have more info to add to the wiki article about the proposed but never built Timuquana Bridge?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timuquana_Bridge

The Timuquana Bridge was a proposed bridge over the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida that was never built. The bridge was planned to connect with State Road 134 (103rd Street/Timuquana Boulevard) on the west shore of the St. Johns with State Road 202 (Butler Boulevard) on the east shore.

The Timuquana was proposed because there is no other bridge crossing the eight-mile stretch of the St. Johns River between the Buckman Bridge and the Fuller Warren Bridge, and residents of the Westside wanting to go to the Southside need to travel many miles out of their way to cross the river. However, construction of the Timuquana would require the destruction of a great many houses on both sides of the river, including homes in some very exclusive neighborhoods along the west bank of the St. Johns. Accordingly, there was little to no political support for the idea from the start.

I'm curious as to what year it was proposed, if this article's accurate. I think part of the charm of Ortega & the Lakewood area is how it's tucked out of the way with relatively light traffic. I can see why the neighborhood residents would've never gone for it, but with traffic building on the Fuller Warren & Buckman, it seems like they'll have to construct another bridge one day.

[Captain Zissou]

The article is pretty accurate.  Everyone complained that it would destroy their views and property values.  The only difference is I thought it was supposed to connect Timaquana to University Blvd.

[David]

That's what I thought too. Although JTB would've been a nice connection, there's just too many established neighborhoods to cut through.

[JeffreyS]

It was to be JTB and metrojax listed it as one of Jacksonville's 8 blunders of all time.

[Ocklawaha]

I believe your both right, the bridge was first proposed back about 1965, and at that time it would have been like the Shands at Green Cove Springs, connecting to University.

The later version included a Butler freeway extension and would have tied into Butler.

I would also consider the incomplete HART BRIDGE connecter freeway on the Southside, as the 9Th worst blunder in Jax History. I was susposed to meet JTB at about JTB and Gate Parkway. Would that be useful now or what?

OCKLAWAHA

[civil42806]

When you discuss this bridge, other than destroying existing neighborhoods, which this board tends to hate, and which I despise, would also have been in the take off and landing patterns of NAS jax.  One p-3 impaling itself on the bridge wouldn't have been a good thing.

[Steve]

When you discuss this bridge, other than destroying existing neighborhoods, which this board tends to hate, and which I despise, would also have been in the take off and landing patterns of NAS jax.  One p-3 impaling itself on the bridge wouldn't have been a good thing.

Two things - if the city built the bridge when it was smart, there wouldn't be a neighborhood impact. (there was nothing on the southbank side for a long time.  As far as the NAS impact, I'm sure that could have been worked out, and if not, a tunnel would have worked as well.

For reference, here is that article:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/631

[Charles Hunter]

Hasn't the neighborhood near where University meets the river (Lakewood? San Jose?) been there just as long as Ortega/Venetia?  And Epping Forest was there (as a private residence) for longer than the bridge has been under consideration.  The neighborhoods on both sides of the river, at this location, were wealthy and contained the power structure of Jacksonville.  And the Navy connection is important, too.

Not much chance of a bridge there.  Back then, now, or in the foreseeable future.

Now, a tunnel ... possibly could be made long enough to not impact the expensive riverfront properties.  But, can you do a "bore" tunnel dig in our sandy soil?  If they had to do "cut" type tunneling, then it's probably another no-go due to the impact on the riverfront, and near riverfront, properties.

[thelakelander]

If they can bore a tunnels in Fort Lauderdale, Downtown Miami and Mobile, I'm sure it could be done here.  However, it would be insanely expensive.

[civil42806]

The neighborhoods on both sides of the river predate the bridge discussion.