Local

Commute about to get easier as new northbound lanes set to open at Overland Bridge

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It’s the news nearly every local driver has been waiting to hear: The northbound lanes of the Overland Bridge Replacement Project on Interstate 95 are about to open.

You’ll start to see the traffic shift as soon as 8 p.m. Friday.

“We’re going to be separating traffic on I-95 northbound into a dedicated access road on the right for the downtown exits; on the left is where through traffic will remain,” said Nick Lulli, spokesman for the project.

Lulli said you’ll need to slow down earlier and start thinking about your next move as you approach the Overland Bridge.

“People are going to have to make the decision on which one they want to be on starting around San Diego Road near Douglas Anderson School of the Arts,” Lulli said.

Crews will be working over the weekend adding finishing touches, including restriping the roadway.

Lulli said it’ll be a lot safer as drivers heading downtown won’t have to weave through traffic at the last minute.

“That decision point is going to be moved more than a mile back, about 1 1/2 miles back from where it is now,” Lulli said.

And if you’re a GPS user, keep in mind not all the available systems will have the changes just yet.

“At this point, we've been able to see that Google Maps has the accurate information so far,” Lulli said.

Also keep in mind that starting at 8 p.m. Friday until early Monday before morning rush hour, the Philips Highway on ramp to I-95 northbound will be closed so crews can get those ramps ready for the new I-95 lanes.

The southbound lanes are expected to open in about a month.