East Beltway Express Lanes construction completion pushed back, general travel lanes added

Jacksonville, FL — Get used to the construction zone on the East Beltway on the Southside, because WOKV has learned the expected completion of the Express Lanes project has been pushed back about a year. The Florida Department of Transportation says the extension is for a good cause, though- they're adding more non-tolled capacity to the highway.

Two tolled Express Lanes on the Southside will stretch between 9B and JTB, when this project is done. The expected completion of that construction had been slated to happen in the next few months. Now, as part of the project, the contractor and FDOT have agreed to add another general travel lane in each direction as well.

“St. Johns County, off of State Road 9B, continues to heavily use I-295 in this area, so we want to make sure that we’re as prepared for the future as possible,” according to Hampton Ray, with FDOT.

If you are on the East Beltway heading northbound, the additional general travel lane will stretch from just south of Baymeadows through to JTB. That will mean three general-use travel lanes in that area.

If you are on the East Beltway heading southbound, the additional travel lane will be an extension of the current “exit only” lane to Baymeadows Road. Instead of that being an exit only lane, FDOT says they will extend it about 1.5 miles, to serve as a third travel lane up to near 9B. This addition covers a smaller stretch than the northbound lanes, because much of the area between JTB and Baymeadows heading southbound is already three lanes.

Ray says the additional scope of work costs about $20 million. He says there are projects around the District that have cost less than what FDOT had budgeted, so they’re using that difference to fund this work. The contractor handling the Express Lanes will do the construction, and they can pick that up because of how the contract is structured.

“You can add things to the project like this, like additional lanes, and it’s cheaper because the design is going on at the same time as construction. And, since the contractor is already mobilized on the area, it makes it more efficient to complete the work as the project is already going on,” Ray says.

This means the expected project completion is now late 2020. Ray says they know some drivers can get frustrated by all of the construction taking place, but he’s asking for patience.

“As they see the construction barrels, just know that it is a positive thing for our community. We see the construction, and we are stuck in the congestion, but it is about progress. It’s about the growth our region is seeing,” he says.

He says they are studying whether they will gradually open the Express Lanes or new travel lanes pending the total project completion, but for now, you should expect your drive to substantially stay the same through late next year.

As for the Express Lanes themselves, the northbound lanes will have access points between Philips and 9B, and at 9B. The southbound lanes will have access points before JTB and near Gate Parkway. Traffic from Gate and Baymeadows will not be able to access the Express Lanes, and there will be no option to exit those lanes to get to Gate or Baymeadows. The Express Lanes will be tolled.

FULL DETAILS: East Beltway Express Lanes

The overall project also includes improvements at various interchanges along I-295 and along JTB. As part of the project expansion, the FDOT says they are also working on JTB and Gate.

Express Lanes on the West Beltway recently opened and are in use. They are tolled electronically during the peak morning and evening commutes.