One of the newest freeways planned in Florida is that of the Branan Field-Chaffee Expressway, State Road 23. Running north-south between Florida 21 (Blanding Boulevard) and Interstate 10, the four-lane freeway is presently either under construction or in the design stages. Beginning in Middleburg, a two-lane surface highway leads north from Blanding Boulevard to the Clay County line. Portions of this roadway lie within or along the freeway right-of-way, other sections will be bypassed by a new four-lane alignment. Interchanges planned include those with Florida 21, the future College Drive North extension, and Argyle Forest Boulevard near the county line.

Branan Field Road (future Florida 23) northbound at the Duval County line. Presently the roadway carries two lanes of traffic between Florida 21 (Blanding Boulevard) and Argyle Forest Boulevard. Signs along the two-lane portion reference the Limited Access Right of Way and list (904)360-5200 as the number to call for information.

Northward into Duval County, Florida 23 exists partly as a two-lane roadway, partly as a controlled-access expressway, and partly as a new alignment currently under construction. Signed Florida 23 follows Chaffee Road northward to Florida 134 (103rd Street). Beyond the intersection with 103rd Street, Florida 23 veers northwest onto a new alignment, presently under construction, to Interstate 10 and U.S. 90. The planned Duval County four-lane freeway includes interchanges with Florida 228 (Normandy Boulevard), New World Avenue, Interstate 10, and U.S. 90.

Florida 23 northbound reassurance marker, the first of two, posted after the signalized intersection with Argyle Forest Boulevard east and Oakleaf Plantation Parkway west. Four-laning of this portion of expressway awaits the completion of interchanges.

The overall project represents the northern leg of the proposed First Coast Outer Beltway, a freeway/tollway project linking Interstate 10 in west Duval County with Interstate 95 in St. Johns County. Florida 23’s south end will transition into the beltway as it turns east toward a crossing of the St. Johns River. The east-west portion of highway will likely be funded with tolls.

In 2001, a two-lane roadway opened between Florida 21 (Blanding Boulevard) and Florida 134 (103rd Street). This roadway included portions of pre-existing Branan Field Road in Clay County and links directly with Chaffee Road north of 103rd Street. Widening of the roadway between Argyle Forest Boulevard and 103rd Street followed, bringing the highway up to a four-lane controlled-access expressway.

Florida 23 (Chaffee Road) northbound at the beginning of construction for the new alignment northwest to Interstate 10. The two to four lane alignment travels through the former Cecil Field Naval Air Station en route to Interstate 10; Chaffee Road continues otherwise to its own diamond interchange with the freeway.

Work commenced on January 16, 2007 on the northernmost portions of the Branan Field-Chaffee Expressway project. Elements of this work include the building of a two-lane roadway linking Florida 23 north of Florida 134 with New World Drive, and a four-lane roadway between New World Drive and the new interchange with Interstate 10. Work on this 4.8-mile segment is slated for completion in fall 2009. Additional work will four-lane the new Florida 23 between New World Drive and Florida 104, creating a four-lane at-grade controlled-access expressway from Interstate 10 to Argyle Forest Boulevard. Future four-laning of the current roadway leading southward into Clay County is planned, but these elements and the four-laning between New World Drive and Florida 104 remain unfunded at this time.

Interchanges along the eventual freeway are planned for beyond the time it takes to four-lane the Florida 23 alignment.