'Diverging diamond' interchange in Nassau County will be first of its kind in Northeast Florida

NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. — If you think traffic is crazy in Duval County, wait until you see how Nassau County drivers will soon be driving on the left side of the road.

A first-of-its-kind traffic pattern for Northeast Florida is coming to A1A near I-95.

The map is designed for the future. It’s an unusual design called a Diverging Diamond Interchange.

“It’s going to be the very first one in Northeast Florida,” said Odette Struys with the Florida Department of Transportation.

Struys said at first glance, it can look confusing and even intimidating, but she said this $40 million project is simple.

“It eliminates the long left turn lanes -- fewer crashes, opportunities," Struys said.

The entire project consists of widening 2.2 miles of A1A, west of I-95 and west of Stillquarters Road, expanding the road from four lanes to six lanes, said Struys.

“A1A is the prime artery for businesses and residents living in Yulee, Callahan, Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island,” said Struys.

We showed the video to several Nassau County drivers and not everyone welcomed the idea.

“The diamonds and all that, it looks very chaotic, you know. If you’re not used to it, or used to the pattern, yeah, a lot of people would stop. The turnabouts, a lot of people aren’t used to the turnabouts,” said Donna Sherych.

Dan McCrainie was one of the few, who likes the plans.

“It’s a different, approach so to watch it in action, you see it in models and things, but to watch it in action, it’s going to be really exciting,” said McCrainie.

FDOT will have a public meeting Thursday, Feb. 23 that will start at 4:30 p.m. at the Florida State College-Nassau Center. The address is 76348 William Burgess Boulevard in Yulee.

Cox Media Group