Growth causing congestion on I-295 near State Road 9B

Driving on Interstate 295 daily, it's easy to notice the sound walls that crews have begun putting up as part of the Florida Department of Transportation's project to widen the interstate and create express lanes between J. Turner Butler Boulevard and State Road 9B.

This stretch of I-295 on Jacksonville's Southside is notorious for congestion during morning and evening commutes.

Ronnie Gainey owns Brucci's, which is located off of Gate Parkway and I-295. He said getting to and from work can be a hassle because of traffic on I-295.

"It looks like all the cars are connected to each other, like a train that's almost at a standstill," said Gainey.

During a Tuesday morning crash near Gate Parkway that showed it doesn't take much to back up this already congested area, people were sitting in traffic for more than an hour during their commute.

Now, FDOT is trying to improve the situation by adding express lanes from JTB to 9B.

The project began this past spring and is expected to be completed by spring 2019.

According to FDOT, the express lanes will be tolled to maintain a consistent and reliable speed for drivers who choose them.

Although they say prices of the express lanes will fluctuate, they will be based on the number of people who use the lanes.

FDOT said this means drivers that choose the express lanes will be able to count on a predictable commute time.

FDOT wants to remind people that traffic slowdowns because of construction will happen, but are a temporary inconvenience for a long-term benefit.

This stretch of highway is what many use to commute from St. Johns County, where the population is booming.

There were nearly 27,000 building permits issued in the county last year and more than 32,000 have been issued so far this year.

Gainey said he tries to give his customers a heads up about jumping into the I-295 mess.

"If anyone is leaving I guess around 5:30 p.m., you may as well stay because till about 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., it's pretty backed up," he said.

Cox Media Group