Tired of backups at Butler and I-95? Help coming

[thelakelander]

More construction for I-95....

Tired of backups at Butler and I-95? Help coming

By Larry Hannan Story updated at 7:13 PM on Thursday, Jun. 18, 2009

Getting on and off of Butler Boulevard at Interstate 95 can be a frustrating experience during rush hour.

Southbound traffic in the I-95 right hand lane can often back up about a mile to Bowden Road for motorists waiting get onto Butler. Shorter backups also occur on Butler with motorists waiting to get onto I-95.

Cars going westbound on Butler must also shift to the right hand lane at the last minute in order to access I-95 northbound. The right hand lane isn’t available until after motorists go over the overpass above Belfort Road.

About 140,000 motorists use this section of I-95 every day, while 35,000 to 40,000 motorists use Butler daily.

But officials with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority say help is coming. A $14 million Better Jacksonville Construction project is beginning that should ease the congestion. The project will take about a year to complete.

The Times-Union spoke to JTA Project Construction Manager Robert Opland  about the project:

What’s being done as part of this project?

The existing exit-only lane from I-95 southbound to Butler Boulevard will be extended so that it begins almost immediately after motorists pass Bowden Road. A new second exit-only lane will also be constructed.

Another exit-only lane from westbound Butler Boulevard to Interstate 95 northbound will also be constructed so that there are two exit lanes.

A second turn lane from Belfort Road to westbound Butler Boulevard is also being built.

Will motorists driving westbound on Butler Boulevard still only have about 100 yards to switch lanes if they want to get onto I-95 northbound?

Yes, it would cost to much to modify the overpass that goes over Salisbury Road. But with two exit-only lanes, it should be much easier to switch lanes.

Will there be road closings during the project?

Road closings will be kept to a minimum. But there will probably be some individual lane closings on Butler Boulevard and Belfort Road. Those road closings will not occur during heavy traffic times, like rush hour.

Will this project solve all the congestion problems in the area?

Probably not. This project is officially being classified as a series of interim improvements. However, it’s not clear when there will be money for a more comprehensive solution.

JTA is looking into more permanent improvements. Options include more turn lanes and a flyover.

The cost of those improvements would probably be about $140 million, money that JTA does not have  right now.

larry.hannan@jacksonville.com

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-06-18/story/tired_of_backups_at_butler_and_i-95_help_coming

[David]

I figured they'd construct extra lanes like they did for the U.S. 17 exit off 295. I take it funding issues killed the project that was underway to do a complete overhaul of the JTB/95 interchange and begin construction by 2013?

There was a meeting back in January to decide between 6 designs for the interchange improvement:

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=129414&provider=rss

[copperfiend]

Sounds like a good temporary fix. The extra lanes certainly helped the traffic exiting from 295 onto 17 and Blanding.

[Jason]

I agree copper.  This should be the first phase of an eventual overhaul of the whole interchange.

[tufsu1]

I figured they'd construct extra lanes like they did for the U.S. 17 exit off 295. I take it funding issues killed the study that was underway to do a complete overhaul of the JTB/95 intersection and begin construction by 2013?

As the article says, that study is still on-going....currently it is in the PD&E phase...which means that even if they find the $140 million or so, it will be at least 5 years before they start any construction

[David]

Ok so the study is on-going but in reality, there's nothing tangible on the horizon in the near future. 6 months ago they made it sound like the study is in the final phases and construction would begin within 5 years, which isn't the case anymore.

Hopefully these minor upgrades will suffice for now..

[thelakelander]

My guess is that both this and the Overland Bridge project will overlap down the line, causing total gridlock on I-95 for a few years.

[TPC]

So will the drivers from Southpoint and Belfort have to cross two lanes if they don't want to take the 95 North exit?

[Jason]

[fatcat]

the truth is the road can never catch up with the traffic. Many years ago I moved from Boston far-west to within subway range and cut my one-way commute from 2hrs to 1hr and suddenly found there was a lot more to life than driving (or stopping) .....