First Coast Expressway

[The Ghostbuster]

I know this was never proposed but would it have been possible to connect FL 9B (future Interstate 795) with the FL 23 First Coast Expressway?

[edwaleni]

I know this was never proposed but would it have been possible to connect FL 9B (future Interstate 795) with the FL 23 First Coast Expressway?

Yes, if St John's County really wanted something like that, they would have.

Honestly, the way they keep allowing developers to change their master road plans, anything is possible.

Nocatee Parkway was supposed to cross US-1 and continue west all the way to 9B (the Durbin Parkway Plan) and feed that exit on 9B before turning up to Race Track Road.  But the Peyton Family (Gate Development) bought all the land to the east of that exit and leased it to Flagler Health/UF Health for a medical campus.  Because of that the planned Durbin Parkway was cut off from reaching 9B. Its now a stupid development drive that takes you back to Race Track Road. All the money spent on creating that exit for 9B just to have it serve a retail U drive to nowhere. It makes the Peyton Family richer, it brings a lot of retail tax base to the county, but it ruined a county plan for a major public safety arterial to and from the beaches. It's a dumbest move I have ever seen a county make.

The Durbin Parkway Plan (named because it followed Durbin Creek) was supposed to serve as not only a regional arterial, but as an evacuation route in the event of hurricanes. St John's County couldn't use Race Track Road, because it shifts into Duval County as it runs east. So that is why they wanted to connect Nocatee and Durbin Parkway with 9B.

[DerGerman24]

On GSV, it is possible to see some signage done for this highway (at the exits that FDOT has planned).
Here are some examples.

US-17 N (to Green Cove Springs)
US-17 S (to Palatka)
FL-16 (traffic heading West), Eastbound signage at an DDI.

Also worth mentioning:
From Blanding (FL-21) to FL-23, the ramp from FL-21 S to FL-23 N is closed (thus so for a while). Drivers must use Branan Field Rd northbound, then merge onto FL-23 N after Old Jennings, OR U-turn after the stoplight at those southbound lanes of FL-23, then make a right onto the on-ramp. I have been checking and looking at FDOT's Second District Road Project website and see that the route, at least to FL-16, is set for full operation in mid 2025 (Jun/July), as outlined on the aforementioned website. As for what I can say for the full route, it is signed well, and for what it's worth, shouldn't need a lane expansion for at least the next 10-12 years. Of course, it's a bummer that the new Shands Bridge and I-95 connection won't be done until 2030, as it looks now. Will love to drive for the fun of it this summer coming.

[edwaleni]

On GSV, it is possible to see some signage done for this highway (at the exits that FDOT has planned).
Here are some examples.

US-17 N (to Green Cove Springs)
US-17 S (to Palatka)
FL-16 (traffic heading West), Eastbound signage at an DDI.

Also worth mentioning:
From Blanding (FL-21) to FL-23, the ramp from FL-21 S to FL-23 N is closed (thus so for a while). Drivers must use Branan Field Rd northbound, then merge onto FL-23 N after Old Jennings, OR U-turn after the stoplight at those southbound lanes of FL-23, then make a right onto the on-ramp. I have been checking and looking at FDOT's Second District Road Project website and see that the route, at least to FL-16, is set for full operation in mid 2025 (Jun/July), as outlined on the aforementioned website. As for what I can say for the full route, it is signed well, and for what it's worth, shouldn't need a lane expansion for at least the next 10-12 years. Of course, it's a bummer that the new Shands Bridge and I-95 connection won't be done until 2030, as it looks now. Will love to drive for the fun of it this summer coming.

The core sampling of the river bed took place prior to covid, so the engineering has been ongoing for some time. While it is a lot of highway to build, I am still somewhat surprised it has taken so long to get operational.

[DerGerman24]

Update : The Southbound SR 21 to SR 23/FCE ramp near the Walmart/Home Depot shopping Plaza is open... Drove it last night, and noticeably, it looks like Blanding will lose a lane through the interchange for the Southbound FL-23 Ramp...

[edwaleni]

Signs for the new First Coast Expressway are going up on the exit ramps.

Pile driving for the new Shands Bridge has started on the west bank.



Installation of the temporary work pier is underway on the east bank

[edwaleni]

As seen in this picture, the land clearing for the expressway east of the St John's River is well underway.

Note the clearing for the new exit ramps for FL-16A and then along its ROW going east.

According to the plans it will pass through a large swamp and then thread through two existing subdivisions before having ramps to I-95.

[edwaleni]

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2025/04/16/next-phase-of-first-coast-expressway-begins-taking-shape-in-st-johns-county/

Next phase of First Coast Expressway begins taking shape in St. Johns County

This segment of the expressway runs east of County Road 16A to just east of St. Johns Parkway through the Silverleaf neighborhood.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Signs of the First Coast Expressway began popping up in St. Johns County as the next phase of the project takes shape.

Residents said they are already noticing the changes, and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) provided updates on what to expect.

Christi Alvarez, a resident of Shearwater, moved to the area two years ago, not far from Trout Creek Academy. She recalled the moment she first heard the construction noise.

"It was a total surprise," she said.

Around the southern part of the neighborhood, clearings and columns are visible, marking significant progress for FDOT.

The First Coast Expressway will eventually connect Interstate 10 to Interstate 95, providing direct access for residents on the Westside, as well as those in Clay and St. Johns counties.

This segment of the expressway, which runs east of County Road 16A to just east of St. Johns Parkway through the Silverleaf neighborhood, is estimated to cost $242 million.

Sara Pleasants from FDOT explained what residents can expect in the coming months.

"They will see some overpasses being built, with the piles for those, and then just new roadway construction, laying asphalt, curb and gutter, that kind of thing," she said.

Just a short drive from a local Jersey Mike's near Silver Leaf, some shoppers mentioned they have begun noticing the changes brought by the expressway.

Pleasants went on to explain long-term project plans.

"This is a multi-year project. They started last fall on this segment, and it'll continue, likely until around 2030. Later this year, we expect to see construction start on that final segment, which will be east of County Road 2209, from St. Johns Parkway to I-95," Pleasants added.

Despite the noise and disruption, Alvarez sees the value in what's coming.

"Shearwater is wonderful. I often say it's kind of like a 55-and-over community for young families," she said, highlighting the appeal of her neighborhood.

Pleasants explained some of the louder noise of the pile driving should be done in the next couple of weeks.

As construction progresses, the First Coast Expressway promises to enhance connectivity and accessibility for residents, paving the way for future growth in the region.

[DerGerman24]

Another update - Near the current terminus - the older signs showing both lanes ending at Blanding are soon to be replaced by Arrow-per-lanes. The control cites for Blanding are Orange Park and Middleburg,
 for SR-23 -  Green Cove Springs and Palataka. The crews have closed off the interchange entrance and shifted over the left lane. Drove the full route today - from I-10 to Blanding - it looks like the route could open by the end of the month, or next month IF FDOT wants to avoid losing tourist money...

[edwaleni]

Another update - Near the current terminus - the older signs showing both lanes ending at Blanding are soon to be replaced by Arrow-per-lanes. The control cites for Blanding are Orange Park and Middleburg,
 for SR-23 -  Green Cove Springs and Palataka. The crews have closed off the interchange entrance and shifted over the left lane. Drove the full route today - from I-10 to Blanding - it looks like the route could open by the end of the month, or next month IF FDOT wants to avoid losing tourist money...

I passed through about 3 weeks ago and the striping at the Blanding diversion was still incomplete, but it did look like they were pretty close. From what I can tell they can't open the spigot until they can get some paving done down at Green Cove Springs with a traffic light for the traffic going east.

That bypass of Reynolds Airfield still looks kind of undone and it appears they are going to do a lane reduction there just before it reaches FL-16. There were lots of conduit sticking up out of the ground for the unfinished traffic lights.

[edwaleni]

Interesting in that Google Maps has now thrown up a "Road Closed" alert for the completed route between Blanding and Green Cove Springs. They are reporting it as "Closed until December 2025"

[ElishaGOtis]

Interesting in that Google Maps has now thrown up a "Road Closed" alert for the completed route between Blanding and Green Cove Springs. They are reporting it as "Closed until December 2025"

That's because my (Waze) colleagues and I added those onto Waze. We set the closure until December because we don't know exactly when it will open this summer, especially with the southern section delayed slightly.

[DerGerman24]

More info near me....

I hope this information does not seem redundant - but more signalization near Blanding has went up... Same control cities - so these details will be spared. The newer signs add in the Southern portion of 23 to US-17, and a greenout at the exit gantry at Old Jennings removes Blanding Boulevard for the control cities. On the northbound ramp from 23 to Blanding - they mark this as the fastest way to get to the nearby St. Vincent hospital, in comparison - southbound takes exit 32 (Old Jennings) for the Hospital.a