| Downtown's New Gateway: The Big "I" |
|
|
| Thursday, 10 July 2008 | |
|
A look at Jacksonville's Big "I". The I-95 / I-10 interchange reconstruction project. The junction of Interstate 10 and Interstate 95 was originally constructed in the 1950’s as part of a cross town expressway system built by the Jacksonville Expressway Authority. It stretched from south of downtown Jacksonville, across the St. Johns River on the Fuller Warren Bridge, and north to Beaver Street. The expressway also stretched west to Lane Avenue and what would later become I-10. At Myrtle Avenue, a large arch truss structure was built to span the old Jacksonville Terminal Company railyard. In the 1960’s, when the Interstate system connected to the expressway north, south, and west of town, the expressway junction became the I-10/ I-95 Interchange.
Construction Diagrams
Progress Photos from www.thebigi.info
The Numbers: Construction cost: $148 million Contract Duration: 2034 Days (approximately 6 years) Number of Bridges to be Constructed: 17 Number of Lane Miles to be Constructed: Approximately 25 miles Estimated Completion Date: 2011 |
July 10, 2008, 8:38 am
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
Wow you mean there's still more room for making this a bigger clusterf*ck?
July 10, 2008, 8:47 am
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
The Forest street entrance is great. This is a much needed infrastructure improvement. They seem to be doing a great job.
July 10, 2008, 8:51 am
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
This is a much needed upgrade for an interchange between two major interstates. In addition it should aid access to downtown and riverside areas. I think I read somewhere that they are under budget and ahead of schedule...
July 10, 2008, 9:17 am
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big
Isn't Superior Construction the GC on this project? If so, its very understandable that they are under budget and ahead of schedule. The built the I295/I95/9A interchange well ahead of schedule and budget and are on track to do the same with the JTB/9A interchange as well.
July 10, 2008, 9:21 am
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
The contruction company is Archer Western. It will be nice when this is complete. New and improved access to Downtown and Riverside will be nice.
July 10, 2008, 9:26 am
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big
Thanks FSUJax.
July 10, 2008, 9:32 am
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
Be on the lookout for the Jacksonville Sasquatch on Forest Street!
http://www.jacksonvilleconfidential.com/2008/03/jacksonville-sasquatch-sighting.html
July 10, 2008, 11:00 am
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
hahahaha. She is the same bum who haunts the intersection of Bay and Jefferson and the I-95 exit at Park Street many nights. I really like her approach too. It consists of silently approaching vehicles and slowly and maniacally waving her arms. She is like the zombie beggar. Of course, it doesnt work on me but amazingly a lot of people give her cash.
July 10, 2008, 1:38 pm
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
The pan handler has been around forever - she usually preys on elderly drivers - I used to feel sorry for her until I saw here for the second or third time shopping & buying nice stuff at regency square.
July 10, 2008, 2:30 pm
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
NO WAY! more detail please, what was she buying?
July 10, 2008, 9:32 pm
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
Minor techie correction...
When the Expressway was built up through the 1970's the Interstate NEVER CROSSED the FEC railroad yard, it DID however cross the massive funnel of the JACKSONVILLE TERMINAL COMPANY RAILROAD and the lead tracks of the ATLANTIC AND EAST COAST TERMINAL RAILROAD. The Terminal was owned by the Florida East Coast, Atlantic Coast Line, Georgia Southern and Florida - Southern Railway, and the Seaboard Airline Railway.
The Atlantic and East Coast Terminal served the freight station and hooker district of Houston Street. It was tiny and the old bridge abutments can still be seen on the side of Bay street just East of the I95 embankments. It was of course owned by the Atlantic Coast Line and Florida East Coast.
This seems minor, I even call it minor, but in talking with industry or State/Federal officials it's always important to remind them, Amtrak, etc... that JACKSONVILLE TERMINAL was the largest passenger Terminal in the United States South of Washington DC, and at one time the busiest station in the world. Also our Railway express station where JTA now sits, was THE LARGEST express terminal in the WORLD. NEVER UNDER SELL our importance to a future Amtrak switching move, a train split in Jacksonville = 3 trains to us... One north, two South! VERY IMPORTANT.
It's never going to be the Prime Osbourne, or Transportation Center in my correspondence, it shall always remain JACKSONVILLE TERMINAL... and for good reason.
Ocklawaha
July 11, 2008, 2:37 am
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
I love this project
July 11, 2008, 8:42 am
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
Here is a small rendering that might show enough detail to count lanes.
July 11, 2008, 8:49 am
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big
When the Expressway was built up through the 1970's the Interstate NEVER CROSSED the FEC railroad yard, it DID however cross the massive funnel of the JACKSONVILLE TERMINAL COMPANY RAILROAD and the lead tracks of the ATLANTIC AND EAST COAST TERMINAL RAILROAD. The Terminal was owned by the Florida East Coast, Atlantic Coast Line, Georgia Southern and Florida - Southern Railway, and the Seaboard Airline Railway.
Ocklawaha
Good catch Ock. I'll correct it here, but you may want to send an email to these guys:
http://www.thebigi.info/project_history.htm
Contact us about the I-10/I-95 Interchange project by sending an E-mail to: michael.goldman @ dot.state.fl.us or calling Mike Goldman at the FDOT Construction Public Information Office at: (904) 360-5457.
July 12, 2008, 12:22 am
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
Wow; this is going to be more complex and much larger than anything I remember that this interchange was or now is.......I hope that they have appropriate signage where needed in order to not make it a cluster ****.
Heights Unknown
July 12, 2008, 11:18 am
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
Be on the lookout for the Jacksonville Sasquatch on Forest Street!
http://www.jacksonvilleconfidential.com/2008/03/jacksonville-sasquatch-sighting.html
Wow thats great...The lady has a code name?? I used to see her downtown and Brooklyn all the time. What's her real name?
July 23, 2008, 12:32 am
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
Coolyfett her REAL name is Shirley Green. You should see her arrest record....
August 16, 2008, 11:36 am
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
Just drove the newly opened flyover connecting I-95-N to I-10-W... Impressive and smooth. Will mess people up for awhile because the exit is to the right instead of the left... Enjoy!
August 17, 2008, 7:01 pm
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
Thanks for the heads up. I'm in town briefly and was just about to head out that way!
August 17, 2008, 7:21 pm
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
Is that intended as a racist slur? Lighten up people, I once lived in Fresno, and Sasquatch lived in the commune in Dunlap. He was a regular around there until Santa Claus's old lady left him, howling in the forest one night. Cheech Martin, used to come up and smoke some boo with him. All I know is Sasquatch had a lot of money, and none of the other freaks did... he had a fancy apartment in Portland too, but the only thing in it besides a bare - top of the line matress, gormet cooking supplies, and a fully stocked fridge, was 241 cats.
No litter box, Sasquatch had long since burned the senses out of his nose, and figured why waste the money on cat litter.
(Old Hippie lore Number 420)
OCKLAWAHA
August 18, 2008, 6:56 am
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
Thanks for the heads up. I'm in town briefly and was just about to head out that way!
They should give me a helicopter and a radio... Jacksonville "traffic" reports are the worst...
August 18, 2008, 10:31 am
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
I get to drive over the new ramp tonight! I am very excited. However, I would rather be a passenger. It will be tough to enjoy the view at 70 miles an hour.
August 19, 2008, 7:25 pm
Re: Downtown's New Gateway: The Big \
The ramp is great, nice view of downtown looking back over your shoulder. However, it will be confusing for a while. When the lanes for I-10 veer off it's about 200' before the I-95N sign comes up. I feel travelers going I-95N will probably end up taking the I-10W ramp if they aren't paying close attention.
What are the benefits of having a MetroJacksonville.com account?
- Share your opinion by posting comments on stories that interest you.
- Stay up to date on all of the latest issues affecting your neighborhood.
- Create a network of friends working towards a better Jacksonville.
>> Register now <<