Wednesday is arguably one of the most anticipated dates this year, the day when you can finally step inside the new Jacksonville IKEA.
“A lot of us tired of going to Orlando for IKEA,” said Herbert Flood.
While excitement is setting in for some, others like Susan Callis say they will avoid the area.
“Crazy, mad house. I won't be here,” Callis said.
IKEA said it’s working with the city and Jacksonville Sheriff's Office ahead of opening day.
Aside from the parking directly outside the store, they’re also providing 1,000 extra parking spaces on Ozark Drive where people can hop on a shuttle to the store.
Prepare for traffic to be heavy on Gate Parkway, a roadway some drivers would like to see improved.
“I think it would help everyone if you know they do expand the roads,” said Flood.
Despite the growth in the area in recent years and even weeks, there have been no traffic studies done.
The city said there are no current plans to expand Gate Parkway.
The North Florida Transportation Planning Organization also said it has not done any traffic studies in or around the area.
Meanwhile some relief is on the way for I-295. By spring of 2018 the express lanes from JTB to 9B are expected to be finished.
For Flood, the benefits of a big name like IKEA will outweigh the negatives.
“I'm happy really that we do finally have an IKEA here that puts Jacksonville on the map because IKEA only goes to major cities,” said Flood.
Cox Media Group
