DOT Wants to CLOSE Hendricks Avenue Ramp from Acosta & Main Street Bridges

[stjr]

Tufsu gave us the heads up on this on another thread.  DOT plans to rebuild the I-95 "overland bridge" from the end of the Fuller Warren Bridge to Phillips Highway/San Diego Road area.  DOT plans include eliminating the exit ramps off of the Acosta and Main Street bridges to Hendricks Avenue.

This will mean if you wish to exit to San Marco from the Acosta Bridge you may ONLY take the ramp along side the FEC tracks at the Aetna/Baptist Hospital area to San Marco Blvd. and pass through San Marco Square to Hendricks south.

If you wish to exit the Main Street bridge you must take the immediate ramp by MOSH to Riverplace Blvd. and pass all the way around on Riverplace to Hendricks before reaching the current entry point afforded by the targeted ramp.  This will not only mean a far less direct pathway, but more congestion on Riverplace Blvd., and more lights to pass through, resulting in extended travel times.

Further, without the targeted Hendricks ramp, if either of the remaining ramps are closed for maintenance or other reasons, there are no alternative exits for these bridges to San Marco and you will have to proceed all the way to Phillips Highway and reverse course - a multi-mile detour!

It doesn't make sense to me.  It will help to sever the Southbank from the Northbank and reduce access to Kings Road and the JTA garage which is off the end of the existing Hendricks ramp.  It will also do a lot to stifle the new economic development on Hendricks Avenue and Kings Road recently as well as increase congestion on already overloaded San Marco Blvd. and Square.  It won't help the condo and apartment dwellers at the Peninsula, Strand, and San Marco Place with all the extra travelers outside their doorsteps on Riverplace Blvd. either.

If you care, you need to let DOT know.  Below is info on their public hearing and contact information for concerned citizens.

I-95 Overland Bridge Replacement
District: Two
Meeting Type: Hearing
Date: Monday, April 20, 2009
Time: 4:30 pm to N/A
Location Name: San Marco Library / Balis Community Center
Street Address: 1513 LaSalle Street
City: Jacksonville, FL 32207
Purpose:
You are invited to a public hearing to discuss the I-95 Overland Bridge Replacement project.  The project begins 1200 feet south of San Diego Road and ends 200 feet north of Palm Avenue. The hearing will be held Monday, April 20, 2009, at the Balis Community Center, 1513 LaSalle St., Jacksonville, Florida 32207.

Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. to allow you time to review and discuss the exhibits and have your questions answered by one of our staff. The formal portion of the public hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m., with an audio/visual presentation followed by an opportunity for public comment.

It is the policy of the Florida Department of Transportation's District Two to prohibit materials and/or exhibits in our public workshops, meetings or hearings that are not the property of the Department.  Therefore, no outside party will be allowed to display or hand out materials in any of these events.

The purpose of the proposed project is to replace the Overland Bridge, which carries both northbound and southbound traffic on I-95 and spans Hendricks Avenue, Kings Avenue, and Montana Avenue in downtown Jacksonville.  The bridge is being replaced due to structural deterioration which is causing the need for frequent repairs.  This public hearing is being held to present the Project Development & Environment Study, discuss the Department’s recommendations and to receive your input.

As of March 30, 2009, the report will be available for your review during normal business hours at the San Marco Library, 1513 LaSalle St., Jacksonville, Florida 32207 and the Florida Department of Transportation’s Urban Office, 2198 Edison Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32204.

This hearing is being conducted to inform the public of the project and afford the public the opportunity to express views concerning the location, conceptual design and social, economic and environmental effects of the proposed improvements. The Department is required by Florida Statutes to give notice to those persons who properties lies in whole or in part within 300 feet of either side of the centerline of any alternative considered (even though they may not be directly affected).

Those who wish to submit written statements may do so at the hearing or mail them to the address below no later than April 30, 2009. All comments received by this date will become part of the public hearing record. All residents, property owners and interested persons or groups are encouraged to come and participate. Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability or family status.

Persons who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Mrs. Brandi Vittur at the number below at least seven (7) days prior to the hearing.

All interested persons are invited to attend this public hearing to review and discuss this important transportation improvement project.
Primary Contact: Mrs. Brandi Vittur, P.E., Project Manager
Primary Phone: (800)749-2967 or (386) 961-7468
Primary E-Mail: brandi.vittur@dot.state.fl.us
Additional Contact: Mr. Bill Henderson, Planning & Environmental Manager
Additional Phone: (800) 749-2967 or (386) 961-7873
Additional E-mail: bill.henderson@dot.state.fl.us
Expires: 4/21/2009

[stjr]

Here is a link to an aerial photo/map showing the targeted Hendricks ramp to be closed and the surrounding area:  http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=hendricks+avenue,+jacksonville,+FL&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=30.316164,-81.657933&spn=0.006418,0.009656&z=17&iwloc=A&layer=t

Once at the link, you can zoom in or out to see it up closer or to see the greater area to be affected.

[thelakelander]

Stjr, from what I've heard, access to Hendricks from the Acosta bridge will continue.  Access to Hendricks from the Main Street Bridge will be eliminated.  This will be done to eliminate the dangerous criss-cross ("weave") traffic where Main St. traffic trying to go to Hendricks must cross traffic from the Acosta going to I-95 South.

[reednavy]

Most have probably experienced that dangerous curve and merge clusterf*ck at some point or another. I am all for closing Main St. access because of that. However, they need to do something about that when they redo this bridge.

[tufsu1]

Stjr, from what I've heard, access to Hendricks from the Acosta bridge will continue.  Access to Hendricks from the Main Street Bridge will be eliminated.  This will be done to eliminate the dangerous criss-cross ("weave") traffic where Main St. traffic trying to go to Hendricks must cross traffic from the Acosta going to I-95 South.

correct!

[David]

Merging on that ramp is like winning a daily lottery. Still though, it's a direct shot from downtown to Hendricks and other points south & east.

They already took away my Margaret street exit...and now this. The man's after all of our antiquated exit ramps. He won't stop until everything is....safe and indirect!

[Cliffs_Daughter]

Most have probably experienced that dangerous curve and merge clusterf*ck at some point or another. I am all for closing Main St. access because of that. However, they need to do something about that when they redo this bridge.

Yup. I agree with you. Experienced that mess enough to exit by the MOSH and get to Hendricks that way.

[Deuce]

I never have a problem with the merge, but then again I've spent years driving in D.C. and even tried my hand at Manhattan a dozen or so times.

[Ocklawaha]

Our best and biggest chance to be heard is attending the meeting. We the people have invested Millions in a inaccessible garage, not to mention the current end of the Skyway. GET A RAMP! By the way imagine the ridership if Rosa Parks had been built at Shand's along with a 1,000 car parking facility. We should do the same at EACH end of the Skyway. It's all about getting to our investment without having to sail around Cape Horn.

OCKLAWAHA

[Steve]

One thing that would be great to do with this project (assuming a money tree in the backyard):

Drop the Main Street Bridge ramp down to grade like it used to be.  This could be a calyst to develop the southbank area a little better, and make it more pedestrian friendly.

[David]

If everyone would keep moving there would be no issues at that merge. It's when people come to a complete stop trying to change lanes that creates the problem.

[stjr]

Most have probably experienced that dangerous curve and merge clusterf*ck at some point or another. I am all for closing Main St. access because of that. However, they need to do something about that when they redo this bridge.

Maybe DOT should take this opportunity to look at reworking the interchange from the Acosta and Main Street Bridges with I-95 and Hendricks exits by borrowing the concepts of separate local and through-interstate lanes being used in the I-95 and I-10 interchange rebuild.  Local lanes would go to Hendricks or Kings Road, other lanes to I-95 south.  This would likely require some flyovers (which seem lately to be in vogue with DOT) not likely being considered in the current rearrangement and it could solve any perceived merger issues (I haven't seen this to be much of an issue at current traffic levels) and remove the hairpin curves at the I-95 underpasses.

[Jason]

One thing that would be great to do with this project (assuming a money tree in the backyard):

Drop the Main Street Bridge ramp down to grade like it used to be.  This could be a calyst to develop the southbank area a little better, and make it more pedestrian friendly.

I was just about to say the same thing.  There is no need to make the Main Street corridor on the southbank a mini expressway.

[DetroitInJAX]

But remember, the goal is to get everyone out of Downtown as quickly as possible.  There's no time to make it friendly.  All we need is a simple business killing elevated mini-expressway with a clusterf**k of traffic lights below to kill all possible business opportunities 

Couple that with massive set back unfriendly 9 to 5 office buildings, poor lighting, bad or non-existent sidewalks, poor, faded, antiquated signage, and a bum problem and viola! you've got jax!  Might as well pop up a big lit sign that says SOUTHPOINT.

[mtraininjax]

But remember, the goal is to get everyone out of Downtown as quickly as possible.  There's no time to make it friendly.  All we need is a simple business killing elevated mini-expressway with a clusterf**k of traffic lights below to kill all possible business opportunities

Why again do people work downtown?