FDOT's traffic camera at I-10 and U.S. 17 shows some of the widening underway.
Published on April 7, 2025 at 2:05 pm
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Q: The state of Florida is in the middle of millions of dollars’ worth of road improvements in Jacksonville.
There’s the long-running redesign of Interstate 95/Interstate 295 on the Northside. There’s the addition of lanes on I-95 north of Emerson Street. Then there’s the widening of Interstate 10 on the Westside.
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That’s the one that irritates Jacksonville Today reader Christopher N.
“Why is road construction on I-10 between Downtown and Lane Avenue/I-295 still unfinished after five years?” Christopher asks. “And WHEN DO THEY WORK? Midnight to 4 a.m.?
“I drive it four times a week, including Saturdays/Sundays — never see any work in progress.”
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“WHAT’S UP? GET GOING!!”
A: The Florida Department of Transportation began the $174.5 million project in the summer of 2020. I-10 is being widened from I-295 to I-95 to accommodate more traffic and to increase safety, FDOT says.
The project should be done this summer, FDOT says on its website.
The project took five years partly because many bridges needed to be widened, and also because crews are working in extremely tight spaces, FDOT says.
“When complete, I-10 will feature up to 10 lanes between I-295 and I-95,” the website says. “Traffic volume along I-10 is expected to increase significantly over the next two decades, and widening the road will alleviate traffic issues in years ahead.”
Jacksonville Today asked FDOT specifically about Christopher’s questions.
Bert Watson, project community outreach specialist, confirms that some sections of the highway will opened to traffic at some point this year. The entire project should be finished in late 2025, weather and unforeseen circumstances permitting, he says.
Watson says “substantial work” is done day and night, six days a week, along the 5-mile corridor. He points out that the work is being done without closing the highway.
“Night operations are one way to achieve construction results more safely and with the least disruption to drivers,” Watson says. “Although a driver may not see work in progress at a specific point in the project, substantial progress has been accomplished, including recent westbound traffic shifts and eastbound traffic shifts by McDuff Avenue.”
Another traffic shift is expected to take place in late April. Watson says continued median work will allow for construction of foundations for overhead signs.
Watson says FDOT officials meet twice a week with the project team, inspectors and the contractor to ensure work is being done according to the contract and according to the budget.
