Springfield's East 8th Street reconstruction project has been completed. This $5.1 million Better Jacksonville Plan project included new underground electric, water, and sewer as well as new traffic signals, street lighting, sidewalks, and road resurfacing.
Published October 19, 2007
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In 2005, the condition of 8th Street was very poor. Overhead utilites were failing, lighting was inadequate, and drainage non-existent. Potholes large enough to damage vehicles were commonplace.
With the project well underway in 2006, 8th Street turned into something approaching a mud pit. Lanes were shifted to accommodate work taking place on the other half of the road.
With the project completing at the end of September, conditions have dramatically improved.
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jbm32206
October 19, 2007, 05:55:31 AMFinally, and aside from the median keeping vehicles from turning onto the street they want...it looks nice
Jason
October 19, 2007, 08:38:23 AMYeah, in the last pic it looks like the median completely blocks a cross street.
Still, this is definitely a sorely needed upgrade. Hopefully this will help to further the investment and development of Springfield.
fsujax
October 19, 2007, 08:55:29 AMIt looks much better and the drive is a lot easier on my truck!
hightowerlover
October 19, 2007, 09:04:41 AMcongratulations jacksonville you got a road paved wow.
vicupstate
October 19, 2007, 09:09:44 AMThere is a lot less landscaping in this project than the previous two.
When will the Main Street phase 2 work begin?
downtownparks
October 19, 2007, 09:11:49 AMI believe they are staging as we speak. One of the hold ups (among a great many) has been that they are using the same staging areas as the E 8th crew.
thelakelander
October 19, 2007, 09:12:08 AMAny idea why most of these new streetscaping projects install landscaped medians instead of parallel parking?
Lunican
October 19, 2007, 09:18:15 AMThe east 8th street side has a lot less median than the west side. I don't think it is a good idea to close off the cross streets though. It increases traffic speed on 8th street and cuts off the street grid for people traveling north/south. Same goes for Main Street. It divides the neighborhood into quadrants.
02roadking
October 19, 2007, 09:26:57 AMWell, I do miss the large oaks that lined the road, although the new thoroughfare is much improved. At night, the new streetlamps really do a nice job of brightening up the corridor.
thelakelander
October 19, 2007, 09:30:12 AMSeems like a suburban transportation solution being applied in an urban area of town. The worst part about the Main Street medians is no thought was put into it from a pedestrian level. Everytime I drive down that street, I see people walking through the landscaping, instead of walking up or down to 4th or 1st to cross the street. While on foot, I've done it a couple of times myself.
Can't complain there. Lighting has really been improved along this stretch.
jbm32206
October 19, 2007, 11:19:34 AMjbm32206
October 19, 2007, 11:20:52 AMI agree, it's dangerous when driving down Main street...people are always standing in the median and then stepping out into traffic.
Ocklawaha
October 19, 2007, 11:31:31 AMFunny thing about this project is, take at look at any transportation planners handbook and you'll see the medians are designed to improve both traffic AND pedestrian safety. Crazy thing is, if you don't do the cross walks, it defeats the purpose of pedestrian safety.
Anyone ever consider the medians are also called "future streetcar plan blockers?" Real hard to get the City Council to approve streetcars when we have just spent the $$$ Millions to rip up the remaining track, and block of the roadway. Smile Victoria, Randy, Mike and Scott... one of you go over and smack the guys in the streetscape department.
Ocklawaha
fsujax
October 19, 2007, 11:49:13 AMSince we are talking about the medians on Main St, I noticed the other night the uplighting on the trees wasnt on and it has been this way for a while now. Should have known it wouldnt last. Just another example of the City/State not maintaining anything they build in this City/part of the State.
jbm32206
October 19, 2007, 01:42:24 PMWhere are the lights out....I'll glad report them
fsujax
October 19, 2007, 02:19:46 PMI will make note of where they are not working tonight.
jbm32206
October 19, 2007, 02:24:46 PMthanks....and I'll be happy to report them
midnightblackrx
October 22, 2007, 11:37:47 AMStudies have found that it's much more dangerous to make a left-turn crossing two ways of traffic than to make a right, then a U-turn at the next median opening/intersection. Also, pedestrians can use the median as a safeplace to cross traffic without having to play frogger with traffic.
Ocklawaha
October 22, 2007, 01:41:10 PMFrogger? Hell, my folks ALWAYS told me: "Why don't you go out and play in the Freeway!" LOL!
Ocklawaha
thelakelander
October 22, 2007, 02:47:59 PMIt would be interesting to see how studies would compare crossing Main on foot, without medians, and crossing Southside Blvd. Maybe its me, but in an urban area, studies should place just as much value on business/residential/pedestrian accessibility, just as much as they focus on vehicular movement.
jbm32206
October 22, 2007, 03:26:04 PMI couldn't agree with you more, Lake...
Lunican
November 19, 2007, 08:49:57 PMHere are a couple before shots from March 2006: