FDOT is hosting public meetings for the project, which would add a third median U-turn on Southside Boulevard between Beach Boulevard and Gate Parkway.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Construction could be coming for a busy stretch of road on Jacksonville’s southside.
The Florida Department of Transportation is hosting public meetings on a planned median U-turn at Southside Boulevard and Touchton Road.
“The median U-turn concept isn’t exactly new, but it’s something we’re using more in our area,” said Florida Department of Transportation Spokesperson Hampton Ray.
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First, it was Southside Boulevard and Beach Boulevard in the summer of 2023, then Gate Parkway and Southside Boulevard just a few months later.
“The community said, ‘Southside is really congested.’ It’s a primary corridor for the businesses,” Ray said.
Now, a third median U-turn could be sandwiched in between at Touchton Road and Southside Boulevard.
“It is a signalized movement, which really does help stretch the traffic over the course of the intersection,” Ray said.
Ray explained, once the intersection is complete, drivers heading Westbound on Touchton Road will turn right onto Southside Boulevard, cue up in a U-turn lane and spin around, then turn right onto Touchton Road.
“It really helps alleviate the congestion,” Ray said.
FDOT’s project also includes a re-routing at Hogan Road with a new traffic signal, modifying the median opening at Anders Boulevard and upgrading the pedestrian crossings throughout the corridor.
“Instead of waiting in traffic and hoping you get to dinner on time or your kid’s game, it may be out of your usual, but I promise you, once you get used to it, it’ll be a better experience for everybody,” Ray said.
Construction isn’t planned until next Fall.
However, FDOT is looking for some feedback before locking it in, so there are public meetings coming up on October 28th and 29th at 4:30 p.m
The first one is virtual, the second in person at Hotel Indigo.