$78 million I95/JTB construction moving forward

Big changes are coming to your daily commute, and we’ve learned those plans are right on track.

The Florida Department of Transportation continues to take feedback on their $78 million construction plan for JTB at the I-95 interchange. If you would like to submit comment for the record you need to give it to FDOT by December 27^th.

We learned earlier this year the funding for the project had been secured and it was being accelerated, with construction slated to start summer 2014.  The biggest components of the changes include a flyover ramp from I-95 southbound onto JTB eastbound, where a light now exists; a “freeflow” ramp that allows traffic on JTB westbound to avoid having to merge with Belfort traffic heading to I-95; and a traffic light addition for the ramp from 95 northbound onto JTB westbound, where currently you have to take JTB eastbound and make a u-turn.

FDOT District Project Development Engineer Jim Knight tells me since the funding was secured, the main components of the project have stayed the same.

“The changes are really so minor, like the radius of a curve,” he says.

But the project overall is something he says is long due because development in the area has outpaced the capacity of the road.

“Traffic problems are quite congested, the improvement is needed,” Knight says.

Knight couldn’t say which portion of the project will come first. He says the contractor who wins the bid will ultimately have a big say in that. Contractors we spoke to expect to be notified about their bids within one to two weeks.