CLAY COUNTY, Fla \u2013 Clay County Fair traffic is off to a smoother start this year after two new ramps opened at the First Coast Expressway and State Road 16 interchange, giving drivers another route in and out of the fairgrounds.<\/p>\n
The Florida Department of Transportation opened the ramps less than a week ago at the interchange of State Road 23 (First Coast Expressway) and SR-16, a long-awaited change aimed at easing the backups that have plagued the fair for years.<\/p>\n
On Easter Sunday, many fairgoers said the difference was noticeable.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came to Clay Fair, I want to say maybe in 2020. Traffic was a little crazy \u2014 today, actually wasn\u2019t bad,\u201d said Latoya Williams, who attended the fair Sunday.<\/p>\n
For years, drivers often faced long waits because the main entrance relied heavily on a narrow stretch of SR-16, creating a bottleneck during peak hours. With the new ramps now open, drivers have additional options \u2014 including access to the First Coast Expressway \u2014 that can help spread out traffic.<\/p>\n
Haley Heminger said the extra lanes and improved flow helped ease her concerns about crowds, especially with major events happening at the fair.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe pulled right up,\u201d Heminger said. \u201cI was a little nervous with there being a concert, but we pulled right in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not everyone found the new setup intuitive right away. Williams said the changes appear helpful but may take some getting used to for drivers arriving from different directions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came actually through 17 straight the Westside of Jacksonville here,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s good, but it can be a little confusing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Law enforcement leaders said they are already seeing fewer backups than in past years. Sgt. Ray Kittles with the Clay County Sheriff\u2019s Office said traffic has been moving more efficiently, with improved signal timing helping keep cars flowing into the fairgrounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have not had as much backup,\u201d Kittles said. \u201cRight now, we\u2019re crediting it to the light cycling properly \u2026 giving westbound traffic an opportunity to get in without a whole lot of assistance from us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sheriff\u2019s office said deputies are also monitoring traffic in real time using cameras and can adjust traffic light cycles if needed to keep vehicles moving.<\/p>\n
Sergeant Kittles adds that congestion on SR-16 has been limited to just a few minor instances so far. While directing traffic, he asked drivers about their wait time and was told many were waiting less than 10 minutes to get in.<\/p>\n
Officials say it\u2019s still early, but the initial turnout suggests the new ramps are already helping reduce the usual fair traffic frustrations. The Clay County Fair runs through April 12. <\/p>\n
The broader First Coast Expressway construction project, running from north of SR-16 to east of County Road 209, is estimated to be completed sometime this<\/p>\n
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