FDOT warns of delays and detours as bridge beams are being shipped to Jacksonville, as part of express lanes project

Jacksonville, FL — Expect delays as you drive on I-10 and I-295, beginning this Sunday and through next week.

That's as the Florida Department of Transportation says 200-foot bridge beams are scheduled to be delivered to Jacksonville, as part of the I-295 Express Lanes project.

The FDOT says the first shipment of beams will leave from Gretna, Florida-- which is northwest of Tallahassee-- on Sunday at 10 AM. Based on that departure time, the beams will likely reach the Jacksonville-area in the early afternoon.

The FDOT says these beams will be traveling along I-10 and I-295 on 18-foot wide carrier dollies, which will take up more than one lane of the roadway.

Additional beam shipments are planned for Tuesday, October 9th, beginning at 7 am, and for Thursday, October 11th, also beginning at 7 am.

Once these beams arrive at their destination, the FDOT says overnight detours are needed to allow for their setting.

The FDOT  has released the following detour schedule for I-295 northbound, between Philips Highway and State Road 9B:

• Sunday, October 7 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

• Tuesday, October 9 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

• Thursday, October 11 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

We're told drivers will be detoured to Philips Highway, north on Southside Boulevard, to eastbound Baymeadows Road, and then back to I-295 northbound.

Southbound I-295 will not be affected by this closure.