FDOT officials host community open house for final segment of First Coast Expressway Project

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — FDOT leaders held an open house in Clay County to talk about the final phase of the First Coast Expressway project.

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According to officials, this phase will bring a new four-lane bridge that goes over the St. Johns River between Clay and St. Johns counties.

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“We just want to give people a preview,” Pleasants said.

According to Pleasants, this project will cost hundreds of millions.

“It’s a 595-million-dollar project. It’s a 6.5-mile project overall, 9,300 footbridges,” Pleasants said.

Pleasants also talked about the impacts this bridge could have on traffic while being built.

“For the most part, for this year at least. A lot of the construction activity is going to be utility relocation, clearing and grubbing,” Pleasants said. “With the bridge project, a good majority of it is going to be in the water.”

Read: Investigates: FDOT hits brakes on I-95/I-295 project, blames contractor for ‘unacceptable’ runoff issues

This bridge will also be part of a toll expressway.

However, there will be local on-and-off ramps on both ends, allowing drivers to cross the river without having to pay a toll.

Margaret Alexander, who is a resident of Clay County, has her concerns about this project, so she decided to come to tonight’s meeting.

“We’re also concerned about the bridge, and the impact it’s going to have on the neighborhoods,” Alexander said.

She adds one of her biggest concerns is the entire plan of the project

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“My concern is very often we make these long-term plans and poof it’s built and uh-oh we should’ve went bigger and better and bigger and higher,” Alexander said.