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First Coast Expressway

Started by edwaleni, January 15, 2017, 09:02:54 PM

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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

Quote from: The Ghostbuster on December 13, 2024, 11:30:18 AMI 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

Quote from: DerGerman24 on December 20, 2024, 10:36:16 PMOn 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.



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