Construction of new bridge across St. Johns River to begin one year earlier

Jacksonville, FL — Construction of a new bridge across the St. Johns River, connecting Clay and St. Johns County, will begin a year earlier than originally planned.

The Florida Department of Transportation says it will begin construction of the bridge in Fiscal Year 2022.  It is part of the First Coast Expressway project, which ultimately connects traffic from I-10 in western Duval County to I-95 in St. Johns County.

The bridge will eventually replace the existing Shands Bridge, which will be demolished once the new bridge is complete, which is anticipated to be five years from the start of construction. The specific timeline for construction has not been set, but it could begin as early as July 2021.

“This important investment in our state’s infrastructure will add capacity to the crossing connecting St. Johns and Clay Counties, provide additional clearance for boat traffic and improve emergency evacuations in North Florida while also enhancing safety for bicyclists and pedestrians”, said FDOT District Two Secretary Greg Evans.

The bridge will carry two lanes of traffic in both directions, have a wider shoulder, and a pedestrian walkway.  That’s more than double the existing Shands Bridge.

And it will be 65 feet from the water line, which is 20 additional feet of clearance, allowing for more shipping commerce through Clay and St. Johns County.

FDOT says construction of the new bridge is expected to cost $324 million and take about five years to complete, based on weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

Construction of the First Coast Expressway (SR 23) is ongoing from SR 21 to the Shands Bridge in Green Cove Springs.