JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- JEA has announced they will have to extend the closures affecting Arlington Expressway and the Mathews Bridge.
The utility company announced Wednesday the expressway will have lane and on/off-ramp closures at the least through this weekend, August 11 and 12.
Gerri Boyce, spokesperson for JEA, said the reason for the work's extension is a contractor working for JEA had a mechanical failure while attempting to pull pipe through a hole that was drilled. A pull-back rod attached to the pipe sheared about 400 feet from the entry point.
Boyce said the contractor was able to retract the pipe and is working to retrieve the pull-back rod, preparing the bore hold and then pulling the pipe again. The change will result in the schedule being extended at least through the weekend before completion.
JEA is working with all agencies affected, the Jaguars and the general public. They are working on coordinating traffic due to Friday night's Jaguars game.
JEA and JSO are recommending motorists use the Hart Bridge before and after the preseason game at EverBank Field.
JEA is recommending the following alternate routes or detours to avoid expected traffic congestion:
- The primary detour for Arlington residents, who live north of
the Arlington Expressway, is as follows: Hart Bridge to Atlantic
Boulevard to University Boulevard to Cesery Boulevard to Arlington Road North. At Arlington
Road either turn right to get to Rogero Road or turn left to get to
University Boulevard. OR Interstate 95 to Heckscher Drive to the Dames
Point Bridge to the Southside Connector to the Arlington Expressway,
heading back toward downtown. All of the westbound exit ramps will be
open to access points north and south of the expressway.
- Commuters who use the Arlington Expressway to access
destinations such as Mill Creek Road, Southside Boulevard and points
further to the east and the Beaches can use the Arlington Expressway,
which will be reduced to one lane.
- Beaches residents who normally use the Arlington Expressway should take I-95 south to Butler Boulevard to A1A north.
- Evening commuters who normally travel Atlantic Boulevard should use Beach Boulevard.
- Evening commuters who normally travel Beach Boulevard should consider taking Butler Boulevard.
The water project JEA is finishing will balance
water withdrawals from the aquifer on each side of the St. Johns River.
It will include a pipeline for potable water transmission that will
consist of six projects or segments of large diameter water pipe
(36-inch, 30-inch and 24-inch).
First Coast News