TU: Road work drags on in Springfield

[David]

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-03-27/story/road_work_drags_on_stores_dragged_down

Construction began in November 2007 and is scheduled to end this fall. Work on the west side of the widening is almost complete, and construction is now mainly occurring on the east side of the road.

I've seen major overpasses built faster.

[ChriswUfGator]

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-03-27/story/road_work_drags_on_stores_dragged_down

Construction began in November 2007 and is scheduled to end this fall. Work on the west side of the widening is almost complete, and construction is now mainly occurring on the east side of the road.

I've seen major overpasses built faster.

Skyscrapers get built faster.

Everything that happens in the public sector in this City takes forever and is crappy workmanship when it's done. I love how road work takes 3 years around here, and when they're done the surface is usually lumpy and nobody bothered to even up the manhole covers with the street surface, etc. It's just sloppy, and nobody cares. Not to mention the 47 delays they never penalize the contractors for.

The way this place works, it's probably Gate contracting company, or someone's brother in law, who gets these bids.

[Deuce]

My girlfriend and I decided that since we don't like a lot of the current commercial businesses on Main St. (with a few exceptions), if the construction closes them down, then good riddance. When the businesses come that we do like (hopefully) at least they won't have to contend with the construction and suffer like those on Hendrix did. Let me add, I don't understand how someone can be deterred from going to a place they like by a little construction. So what if someone has to walk a few blocks, were all too damn fat anyway and could use the exercise (note this does not apply to disabled people).

[David]

Let me add, I don't understand how someone can be deterred from going to a place they like by a little construction. So what if someone has to walk a few blocks, were all too damn fat anyway and could use the exercise (note this does not apply to disabled people).

I've never understood that either. I'm a regular of shantytown off w 6th and it's never really deturred me. But people really do seem to be put off by construction or by having to walk a few blocks.

[thelakelander]

^Its the reason the Landing has wanted the city to build that parking garage they promised two decades ago.  Still no garage and the Landing continues to struggle.  We may not understand, but the parking perception is definitely a problem locally.

[David]

Very much so.

Look at Mare's Sweet Kabob on Hendricks. There's no on street parking on their side of the road and limited parking across from it. It really keeps their business down.

[Lunican]

The article refers to the project several times as road widening, but the road will remain at four lanes.

For more than a year, the city and JEA have been widening Main Street from two to four lanes, from Fourth Street to 12th Street.

[thelakelander]

It also mentions Springfield being developed as Jacksonville's oldest suburb after 1901.  Although, the fire sent more residents its way, Springfield dates back to 1868.

Located north of downtown, Springfield was built after the 1901 fire as Jacksonville's first suburb.

[David]

The article refers to the project several times as road widening, but the road will remain at four lanes.

It's always been 4 lanes right? I don't recall that part of N. Main ever being two lanes only, one each way.

[thelakelander]

It was two lanes when it had a wide median with a double tracked streetcar line.  However, that was nearly 70 years ago.

[BridgeTroll]

NOBODY wants two lanes with a wide median with a double tracked streetcar line... That is sooo 19th century...

[mtraininjax]

McDuff Avenue feels your pain. Started too in 2007, still going strong into 2009, not slated to finish until 2010. Gotta love JTA!!!!!!!

[urbanlibertarian]

Replacing ancient utilities is what takes so long.  If it were just road work it would be finished.