I-95/I-295 Jax Port/Downtown interchange

[jaxlore]

Anyone know what route this new interchange is supposed to take?


http://floridapolitics.com/archives/category/jax

Rick Scott kicks off I-95/I-295 interchange in Jacksonville
On Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott was in Jacksonville to kick off the Interstate 95/Interstate 295 interchange project.

The hub will help connect JAXPORT with I-95, as well as offering another route from downtown Jacksonville to the airport.

Gov. Scott said, "We are proud to be welcoming so many families and job creators to Florida, and we must do all we can to make sure our roadways are prepared for future growth. That is why I am proud to announce the kick-off of the I-95/I-295 North Interchange project today. This project will encourage continued economic growth in Northeast Florida and improve safety for the many residents, business owners and visitors who travel here each day. We will continue to make important investments in projects like the I-95/I-295 North Interchange to ensure Florida's transportation system remains a national leader."

The $177 million project is expected to take three years, with $103 million coming from the state of Florida.

[jaxlore]

I looked at the maps and cant really see how this is "offering another route from downtown Jacksonville to the airport"

http://www.nflroads.com/_layouts/FDOT%20D2%20Northeast%20Florida%20Road%20Construction/ProjectDetails.aspx?pid=263&sid=All

[acme54321]

Yeah, I'm not seeing that either.  The info on the FDOT site looks pretty old so maybe they changed it some but I still don't see what they could do to make access to the port better.

[spuwho]

This project will remove the "exit left" to 95 to north or south.

So if you are headed east on 295 towards 95, you will get a common combined exit to the right, then a wye with a choice of stay right to go to the city, or take a lefr hand flyover which will then wye again. Stay left for Savannah, or stay right for the airport.

People exiting from west 295 to 95 will get a similar exit to right, with a wye, left to city, right to another wye with Ssvannah or Airport as your choice.

What I dont see is the biggest weakness in the 95 north exit to the airport being fixed, a non standard cloverleaf that is very tight which requires a speed drop in too little space.

FDOT has wanted to get rid of that "exit left" config at 95/295 for years. FHA considers them unsafe, especially for trucks as they have to merge across a passing lane to reach it.

[Steve]

FDOT has wanted to get rid of that "exit left" config at 95/295 for years. FHA considers them unsafe, especially for trucks as they have to merge across a passing lane to reach it.

If that's the case, why did they build this in to the I-95/SR9B (Future I-795) interchange? They literally built a modern version of the original I-95/I-295 North interchange.

[spuwho]

FDOT has wanted to get rid of that "exit left" config at 95/295 for years. FHA considers them unsafe, especially for trucks as they have to merge across a passing lane to reach it.

If that's the case, why did they build this in to the I-95/SR9B (Future I-795) interchange? They literally built a modern version of the original I-95/I-295 North interchange.

Are you sure we are talking the same thing?  There is a difference between a wye and a left hand exit.

Left hand exits are safe if they are done under a control ramp, typically one lane.

They were once popular to design in the 50's and 60's, but the  issue with truck safety grew in the 70's and by the 80's many DOT's were replacing them.

[southsider1015]

FDOT has wanted to get rid of that "exit left" config at 95/295 for years. FHA considers them unsafe, especially for trucks as they have to merge across a passing lane to reach it.

If that's the case, why did they build this in to the I-95/SR9B (Future I-795) interchange? They literally built a modern version of the original I-95/I-295 North interchange.

Are you sure we are talking the same thing?  There is a difference between a wye and a left hand exit.

Left hand exits are safe if they are done under a control ramp, typically one lane.

They were once popular to design in the 50's and 60's, but the  issue with truck safety grew in the 70's and by the 80's many DOT's were replacing them.

Disagree.  Left-handed exits, regardless of whether they are single lane or multi lane, or whether what they fly under or fly over, are considered unsafe for trucks for the lane changes.

Why did 9B get built with a left handed exit?  We're still scratching our heads, but it likely was a financial decision.  Left-handed exits are cheaper than right handed exits.

The project includes improvements to the NB I-95 to WB Airport Rd loop ramp.  Site distance clearing, widening and adjusting the guardrail I believe.  Should help a bit.  Similar loop ramp improvements to the Southside / JTB loop ramp improvements project occurring right now.

Also, I'm in the industry, and have never heard if this "wye" configuration. 

[southsider1015]

One final note.

Be on the look out for news about a JACKSONVILLE sign, similar to the one at I-95 / Old St. Augustine Rd. 

[RatTownRyan]

I have always liked driving north on 95 into Jax and seeing that sign at Old St. Augustine Rd. I would love to see big JACKSONVILLE signs leading into the city on I-10 and while driving south on 95 into Jax.

[coredumped]

Me too. But they should move it to the 9b overpass now that it's built, since Duval county starts before the current sign.

[southsider1015]

http://thefloridachannel.org/videos/11316-kick-off-95i-295-north-interchange-project/

[southsider1015]

Take a look at this YouTube video by RS&H; pretty impressive stuff!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e67kpWkLOSU

[thelakelander]

Sweet video. I wonder how much it cost to produce? I didn't realize it includes rebuilding a good chunk of I-295 as well.

[spuwho]

FDOT has wanted to get rid of that "exit left" config at 95/295 for years. FHA considers them unsafe, especially for trucks as they have to merge across a passing lane to reach it.

If that's the case, why did they build this in to the I-95/SR9B (Future I-795) interchange? They literally built a modern version of the original I-95/I-295 North interchange.

Are you sure we are talking the same thing?  There is a difference between a wye and a left hand exit.

Left hand exits are safe if they are done under a control ramp, typically one lane.

They were once popular to design in the 50's and 60's, but the  issue with truck safety grew in the 70's and by the 80's many DOT's were replacing them.

Disagree.  Left-handed exits, regardless of whether they are single lane or multi lane, or whether what they fly under or fly over, are considered unsafe for trucks for the lane changes.

Why did 9B get built with a left handed exit?  We're still scratching our heads, but it likely was a financial decision.  Left-handed exits are cheaper than right handed exits.

The project includes improvements to the NB I-95 to WB Airport Rd loop ramp.  Site distance clearing, widening and adjusting the guardrail I believe.  Should help a bit.  Similar loop ramp improvements to the Southside / JTB loop ramp improvements project occurring right now.

Also, I'm in the industry, and have never heard if this "wye" configuration.

Are you talking about the 9b split from 295 or the 9b/95 intersection?

Also, I dont see any accomodation for the future north jax rail bypass unless they expect it to bridge over.

[acme54321]

I thought the rail bypass was supposed to go north of the airport somewhere?  I thought a few years ago I saw something about csx looking at reactivating the gross cutoff for that purpose?