FDOT is taking comments on new proposed interchange at JTB and San Pablo

Jacksonville, FL — It’s a potential change on your way to the Mayo Clinic.

The Florida Department of Transportation is taking public comments on a proposed Diverging Diamond Interchange at the JTB, San Pablo interchange. This follows an open house on the project Thursday night. FDOT says a DDI is an intersection where drivers are taken to the left side of the road briefly and then cross back to the right side after the intersection. It might sound confusing, but FDOT says the pattern change helps eliminate conflict points for drivers turning left and ultimately helping to ease traffic in the area.

“It’s a really innovative concept.” Hampton Ray with FDOT says.

Ray says there is a significant traffic increase projected in the area. He says vehicle traffic is expected to increase by 33% on JTB by 2040 and by 57% on San Pablo Road in that same time frame. Ray says that comes out to a projected 108,000 vehicles a day on JTB through the area and 46,500 vehicles on San Pablo by 2040. Currently, Ray says near 30,000 vehicles travel on San Pablo and almost 81,000 vehicles on JTB a day. FDOT says the new interchange is also projected to save drivers exiting JTB eastbound 72 to 100 seconds and 6 to 57 seconds per vehicle under the 2040 traffic projections.

“All indications appear that we will be moving to construction probably in the Winter of this year.” Ray says.

Ray says the project also includes adding a new entrance to the Mayo Clinic for JTB westbound, just west of the interchange. He tells us the $9.2 million project is fully funded.

FDOT says they are taking comments on the project until January 24th, 2019.