The Florida Department of Transportation is warning about more Buckman Bridge backups, like this one in 2022. | FDOT via News4Jax
Published on October 17, 2025 at 12:59 pm
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Drivers beware: Repairs and weekend backups on the Buckman Bridge are likely to continue for months.
The Florida Department of Transportation began a $5.4 million repair project six months ago to replace metal joints, and the work won’t be done until spring.
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FDOT once again will shut down two lanes of Interstate 295 South on the bridge from 10 p.m. Friday through 4 a.m. Monday.
Similar work on previous weekends caused southbound traffic to back up to the Collins Road exit and beyond in Westside Jacksonville. Traffic also snarled on U.S. 17 and Blanding Boulevard as drivers tried to get onto the bridge to get to Mandarin from Duval and Clay counties.
The detours to get across the St. Johns River are long — 21 miles north to cross via the Fuller Warren Bridge or 18 miles south to use the Shands Bridge.
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The Buckman work
FDOT began work on the Buckman Bridge finger joints in April, said spokesperson Hampton Ray. The expansion joints accommodate movement between pavement sections caused by temperature changes and other factors.
This project requires the complete replacement of the joints, coating and other structural steel work related to the structure. No work is allowed from 4 a.m. Mondays through 10 p.m. Fridays to minimize disruption for motorists, the department said.
“While there is no ideal time to perform work that impacts traffic flow, FDOT appreciates the community’s understanding that this essential bridge work is necessary to ensure the safety, reliability and longevity of Florida’s infrastructure,” Ray said.
Repair work ultimately will be done on both directions of the bridge — northbound (Mandarin to Orange Park) and southbound (Orange Park to Mandarin), he said.
And an additional alert for drivers: The bridge’s speed limit will be reduced from 65 mph to 55 mph through the project zone.
