JSO downplaying the impact the closure of the Mathews Bridge will have on traffic heading into downtown for Sunday’s Jaguars game at Everbank Field during a press conference Friday morning. They say a bridge going down on a game day is something for which they already have contingency plans in place.
"This is not a major problem, this is something that we can address," says JSO Assistant Chief of Special Events Leonard Propper
Propper says JSO is asking people to use public transportation if possible since water taxis and JTA will drop you within walking distance from the gate. He's also asking everyone to show up half an hour earlier than you normally would. JSO is planning to staff about a dozen more officers this weekend to work the detour routes and help traffic flow more smoothly.
"If everybody comes 30 minutes early and follows those instructions, you'll be able to park and get to the game on time."
If you normally take the Mathews Bridge to the stadium, JSO suggests taking the Hart Bridge instead, and if you normally take the Hart, take the Main St. Bridge. Propper says post game traffic should be more or less the same normally, except Mathews Bridge traffic will have to take MLK or Talleyrand instead.
About 55,000 are expected to be in downtown for Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts, which kicks off at 1 p.m. As the Jaguars flagship station, we will have live coverage beginning at 10 a.m. with the Publix Tailgate Show, followed by pregame coverage and then kickoff.
From JSO's Web site:
Inbound Traffic:
- Pre-Game Traffic due to the Mathews Bridge Closure:
- Fans who normally take the Hart Bridge to the stadium please drive over the Main Street Bridge.
- Fans who normally take the Mathews Bridge please take the Hart Bridge to get to the game.
- Inbound traffic patterns pre-event do not restrict access to any Downtown/Sports Complex venue
- Bay Street will have three lanes east bound and one lane west bound.
- Signage will be posted in the downtown area to direct event traffic to parking lot locations.
Outbound Traffic:
- Post-Game Traffic due to the Mathews Bridge Closure:
- Fans who normally take the Hart Bridge can continue to use the Hart Bridge to exit the Sports Complex area.
- If you are leaving the east side of the stadium please head north on Talleyrand then north on MLK Parkway and take either the Dames Point Bridge or make a U-turn to access the Hart Bridge.
- Westside traffic patterns will not be altered for the game.
- Starting at half time, Gator Bowl Boulevard at Festival Way (WJCT) will be one-way northbound.
- Starting at half time, Bay Street/Gator Bowl Boulevard starting at Lot "J" exit will be one-way west bound.
- There will be one way traffic patterns away from the complex post event for 45 minutes to one hour.
- If you are planning to pick up passengers post event, you will have to wait until the traffic pattern returns to normal, approximately 60 minutes after the event ends.
- Taxi drop off and pick-up is located at the north end of the stadium, near Gate 3.
