Mandarin residents see I-295 edge closer to homes; bypassed by benefit

[thelakelander]

Mandarin residents are just starting to see the massive changes in the landscape along their part of Interstate 295.
Thousands of trees have been torn down to make way for a SunPass toll lane — or "express lane" — between the Buckman Bridge and the I-95 interchange.

Unfortunately, Mandarin residents won't be able to use it.

"I'm really ambivalent about the express lane because I won't be able to use it anyway," said Leah Tincher, whose home in the Sweetwater neighborhood on Greenland Road now sits in view of the interstate.

Though many homes along the interstate are losing their natural barrier, along with the does, bucks and yearlings that could often be seen at night nibbling on the grass along the woodline southwest of the interchange, there will be no entrance points to the toll lanes anywhere in between — leaving Mandarin residents in the three traditional lanes of traffic.

"I'm just glad they're finally putting in a sound barrier," Tincher said.

After the last round of widening on that section of I-295, Tincher was mortified. "When I bought this house, you couldn't hear the interstate and you couldn't see the interstate," she said. "Now I can wave to people from my pool."

Full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-01-04/story/mandarian-residents-see-i-295-edge-ever-closer-homes-bypassed-benefit

[spuwho]

Seeing that it is an express lane by design, I wouldnt see Mandarin residents getting any benefit beyond sound abatement.

Only people passing through.

Funny how money can be found for tolled express lanes but transit is left to find its own way.

[coredumped]

This is such a waste of money - we don't have the traffic problems here that come close to Miami, the only other city to have these "lincoln lanes." They'll be empty most of the time really, and who in their right mind would use them at night since they'll still be tolled?

I'm surprised Mandarin residents didn't put up more of a fuss.

[pierre]

I'm also not sure I see a huge benefit here.

[Jumpinjack]

Those of us living on the edge of the interstate here in Riverside or in St. Nicholas or San Marco feel your pain. FDOT's primary concern with road construction appears to benefit mainly concrete and asphalt providers. Time to acknowledge that drivers only benefit in the short term. 

[Kerry]

This has boondoggle written all over it.  The vast majority of people coming from the I-295 East Beltway are going to Mandarin and people coming from north and southbound I-95 won't even have access to it.  I drive this way 2X a week at rush hour and it only takes a few minutes to get through the traffic caused by 5 lanes going to 3 lanes in a 1/2 mile.  During non-rush hour there is more than ample road capacity.

Boondoggle: A boondoggle is a project that is considered a useless waste of both time and money, yet is often continued due to extraneous policy or political motivations.

[iMarvin]

I think the long-term goal is to add express lanes to the entire beltway. They had to start somewhere, and this was one of the only places where it makes sense for now.

[jaxjags]

Agree with all above. No required in JAX and wont be for sometime. Lived in ATL 12 years and drive through Washington/Baltimore area several times a year. We have no traffic problem here. Can someone educate me, can FDOT work on mass transit projects? Most collect fares/tolls just as toll lanes do.

[Scarlettjax]

It was sad to see all the wildlife displaced (and quite a few run over on I-295) by the construction of some lanes no one needs and few will use. 

[thelakelander]

That's not the only place where the trees are coming down. Here's a cell phone pic at the intersection of JTB and Bonneval Road. All the trees in the area are coming down as a part of the I-95/JTB project. Retention ponds will be built in their place.

[acme54321]

Retention ponds are just the best!

[iMarvin]

Why do these all these projects always require so many retention ponds?

[pierre]

Why do these all these projects always require so many retention ponds?

I have wondered this as well

[Jason]

Why do these all these projects always require so many retention ponds?

I have wondered this as well

So that the poluted highway runoff doesn't affect the surrounding areas and waterways.

[spuwho]

Because when you replace the ground that can absorb water with something that doesnt,  especially in Florida,  you have  to remediate it.  Rather than have rain runoff just flow randomly, FDOT designs tiered retention ponds that can collect so much water before it flows through an exit grate into either another tiered retention area or into a purpose made natural area.

A good example of tiered retention is 295 East Beltway south of Baymeadows to Philips Highway. The forest to the west of 295 is owned by FDOT to assist with noise and water absorption along with retention ponds and specially graded runoff zones.

Otherwise all the runoff in this area would rush to the Durbin Creek Basin and cause flooding. 

So the ponds represent the first level of water management along highways. 

Admittedly in years past state DOT's were terrible at water runoff plans and made simple culverts. In the last 20 years there has been much advancement in water management in overall highway design.