St. Johns, Fla. — There is a push to help ease traffic in a heavily congested area in St. Johns County.
From Buc-ee’s, Costco, and a new Bass Pro Shops to housing developments, International Golf Parkway at I-95 is a busy area.
“Silver Leaf has built maybe 4,000 out 15,000 of their homes,” said State Representative Kim Kendall. “We have two schools out here on International Golf Parkway that already overflow. They’re stacking lanes onto IGP.”
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And with even more development to come, St. Johns County leaders are looking ahead to accommodate future traffic demands and relieve existing congestion.
Kendall said they are working with FDOT to come up with a ramp exit design. She said it would take about 50% of the southbound traffic exiting off I-95 and send it straight into the commerce center loop.
The cost of this would be about $40 million and they are seeking local, state and federal dollars to cover it.
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“We are all working together,” said Kendall. “I spoke recently at a county commission meeting and the entire board approved to put it on their top five priority list.”
In addition to the exit ramp re-design, Kendall said another project that will be a major factor is the First Coast Expressway.
“That’s going to connect by 2030,” said Kendall. “FDOT is going to start widening 95 to eight lines starting at least from World Golf Village north.”
And once the First Coast Expressway connects, Kendall said it is going to dump another 50,000 cars per day onto I-95.
Discussion on the exit ramp proposal is expected to continue at the St. Johns County commission meeting on Jan. 21st.
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