Interstate 95 northbound is being widened between Atlantic Boulevard and Emerson Street. | Florida Department of Transportation
Published on May 1, 2025 at 2:53 pm
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Q: A 3-mile stretch of Interstate 95 just south of Downtown Jacksonville is undergoing a multimillion-dollar widening project by the Florida Department of Transportation.
Jacksonville Today reader Karen F. says people in her office have been discussing the stretch of the interstate in the construction zone. Several co-workers relate that they have had “dangerous close calls at a new ‘unmarked merge” while heading northbound after Emerson Street.
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“It’s like one lane of traffic just ends with no warning, and it catches a lot of people off guard,” Karen writes. “It is just before you get to the Downtown/Atlantic Boulevard exit.”
“Is there anything the Florida Department of Transportation can do to make that area safer?”
“Although I’m sure the current situation is temporary, I’m worried that someone will get seriously hurt or killed,” Karen says.
A: The state Transportation Department started the $247 million project in 2023, and it is expected to be done by the spring of 2028. The plan is essentially to reconstruct I-95 from south of Emerson Street to Atlantic Boulevard, widening it to five lanes in each direction.
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FDOT spokesperson Sara Pleasants says signs have been posted in the part of I-95 that Karen asks about since the traffic shift in that area was implemented.
“Additionally, the contractor added two extra ‘merge’ signs to enhance driver awareness of the merging lanes,” Pleasants says in an email. “In response to this concern, the project team will also look at enhancing the area with additional pavement markings if possible.”
“Once the next lane shift in this area occurs over the next couple of weeks, new pavement markings will be placed at that time, which should take care of any confusion.”
The widening project starts about 2,700 feet south of the Emerson Street exits and ends about 2,400 feet south of the Atlantic Boulevard exits, FDOT says.
Contractors have already added a new southbound lane on part of the interstate. And as both directions are ultimately widened to five lanes, the state will also raise the profile of I-95 to improve sight distance and replace the bridges over Emerson Street and San Diego Road.
Emerson Street also will be repaved from Philips Highway to Spring Park Road.
Other changes include reconfiguring the Emerson Street interchange into a median U-turn interchange, similar to what was done in 2023 at the Beach and Southside boulevards interchange.
Drainage improvements will be made along I-95, with more retention ponds and improved lighting and traffic signs. Some sound walls will be added or replaced between neighborhoods and the wider interstate, FDOT said.
