New exit open at Blanding on I-295 South

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The new exit ramp on I-295 Southbound to Blanding Boulevard opened Thursday morning.

The change means southbound motorists exiting at Blanding Boulevard will get on a new service road near Morse Avenue about 1.5 miles from the old exit which will permanently close after the traffic shift.

The new exit is part of a $63.4 million project to build service roads parallel to I-295 near Blanding Boulevard and Collins Road. The project will alleviate congestion at I-295 and Blanding Boulevard by separating local traffic using the new service roads from interstate through traffic.

The project started in February 2011 and should be finished by the end of this year.

The Collins exit will also alleviate a lot of traffic. It is expected to open this summer.