Fuller Warren Bridge Replacement - Major Missed Opportunity for Jacksonville

[Charles Hunter]

Although the idea of converting Commodore Point into commercial and residential space is tempting, the environmental clean up costs of converting the cement plants and shipyard will be HUGE!

[thelakelander]

Is Commodore Point a part of the industrial preservation overlay?  If so, any redevelopment, will be industrial in nature.  In any event, if water front land became available, I could see JaxPort making a play for it.

[tufsu1]

The Mathews bridge alternatives identified in the PD&E study include three main options...

1. Build a new 8 lane bridge (no transit lanes)
2. Build a new 8-lane bridge w/ 2 lanes reserved for transit (and likely HOV)
3. Build a new 4-lane bridge (one direction) and rehab the existing bridge (other direction)

The potential for transit lanes w/ Option 3 was not made clear in the study.

The cost estimate for the project is about $300 million....and while that may seem out of reach, FDOT is gearing up to replace the I-95 Overland Bridge (the raised section from the Fuller Warren to south of US 1)....and the cost for that project is about $170 million! 

[Charles Hunter]

tufsu, does the $300M for replacing the Mathews include rebuilding the MLK and University Blvd. interchanges?  or just tying the new construction into what's there?

Doesn't the fact that the "Overland Bridge" is part of I-95 make it easier to get money for, than the Mathews Bridge, which isn't an interstate?

Curious - Google help me find out about "Overland Bridge" ...  ahh, the DOT is about to have a meeting (scroll down just a little on this link)
http://www2.dot.state.fl.us/publicsyndication/default.aspx?location=publicmeetings_district2

[thelakelander]

With this and the I-95/JTB improvements planned, it would be nice if Amtrak began operation on the FEC.  With a satellite station at the Avenues, trains passing through could be used as a commuting alternative between DT and the Southside.  I wonder where is that resolution of support letter from the Council and Mayor's Office?

[tufsu1]

the $300 million is just for the bridge itself....widening the Arlington Expwy to 6 lanes would likely cost another $150 milion....and who knows how much it would cost to rebuild/widen the raised part of the expressway west of the bridge (by the sports complex).

As for the I-95 project, maintenance and capital projects are separate pots of money....FDOT usually sets aside x amount of fuel tax dollars for maintenance and the remainder then gets split out for capital projects....and the % needed for maintenance has been increasing over the last few decades.

What bothers me is that operations & maintenance costs are always part of the transit equation, but they rarely get mentioned when it comes to roads.

[Charles Hunter]

With this and the I-95/JTB improvements planned, it would be nice if Amtrak began operation on the FEC.  With a satellite station at the Avenues, trains passing through could be used as a commuting alternative between DT and the Southside.  I wonder where is that resolution of support letter from the Council and Mayor's Office?

Probably in a landfill somewhere. 

[Ocklawaha]

I believe this is the vessel they will be building


CSS ATLANTA...and some people think the South is behind the times? Maybe this is why they kicked the ass of the USA for 5 years... Ya know the more things change the more they stay the same.

Although the idea of converting Commodore Point into commercial and residential space is tempting, the environmental clean up costs of converting the cement plants and shipyard will be HUGE!

I was down at Manson Marine and the Shipyard yesterday, they both indicated that the Cement plants haven't seen any
activity in a long time. The way they talked perhaps a handful of rail cars per year. The cars that are now scattered all around the complex on railroad sidings are empty, dead, and belong to the plant. Looks like they came home to roost. If the company was serious about making a buck, they would clean up those cars and send them out to earn per-diem hauling concrete from point A to B in Texas or Timbuktu.

Both yards told me the silos are on borrowed time and the discussion is already about how they plan to redevelop the  land. I think the yard is worried that the Jag's and Stadium will grab it. The NF Shipyard has inked a deal with Grumman for a new class of Navy Destroyers, don't know if they are building part or all of the ships. It's a joint venture of the aerospace firm, and about 5-6 major American Shipyards.

OCKLAWAHA

[stjr]

What sounds better and more appealing?  Riverside Arts Market under (a) I-95/Fuller Warren [ask how many Jax newcomers even know its real name] Bridge, (b) Golden Gate Bridge or (c) Brooklyn Bridge. 

Why?  Two of these bridges are well known attractions in their own right due to their distinctive and timeless architecture.  One is only recognizable as a bridge instead of a highway overpass because it has water below it instead of land.

[thelakelander]

If there are plans to replace the I-95 Overland Bridge, I hope the design includes aesthetically pleasing elements for a change.

[stjr]

The Mathews bridge alternatives identified in the PD&E study include three main options...

1. Build a new 8 lane bridge (no transit lanes)
2. Build a new 8-lane bridge w/ 2 lanes reserved for transit (and likely HOV)
3. Build a new 4-lane bridge (one direction) and rehab the existing bridge (other direction)

The potential for transit lanes w/ Option 3 was not made clear in the study.

The cost estimate for the project is about $300 million....and while that may seem out of reach, FDOT is gearing up to replace the I-95 Overland Bridge (the raised section from the Fuller Warren to south of US 1)....and the cost for that project is about $170 million! 

My vote is for a new Matthews with 8 lanes, 2 reserved for transit.

As to the Overland I-95 bridge, why is this project on the boards?  They reworked and expanded this section around 25 years ago or so, if I remember correctly.  It seems to work well.  What's wrong with it?  Aren't there better uses for the $170 million than this?  Like converting the half-built interchanges on I-295 and I-95 to fully ramped to avoid traffic lights on the connecting roads.  How about rail mass transit!

[tufsu1]

because some parts of the Overland Bridge are almost 50 years old, which means they will need to be replaced and/or rehabilitated....they are also going to add a third southbound lane on I-95 itself for that half-mile portion between the Atlantic exit and where the C/D road joins....

as for aesthetics, this will come during design....right now they are just finishing the PD&E....but a good example might be what FDOT D7 has done with I-4 and I-275 through the core of Tampa (although I hate how much land they will end up using).

[thelakelander]

I wonder if the plans include making 95/Philips/Atlantic a full interchange?

[Ocklawaha]

Yes, hopefully somebody will realize that people use Atlantic and Philips, it needs a direct link to the parking garage, perhaps flyover ramps to Hendricks.

OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

I know there is some interchange modifications, but not sure what....two things I do know...

1. There are no plans for a ramp to/from the JTA garage
2. The ramp to Hendricks from the southbound C/D road out of downtown wil be closed