JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The northbound lanes of Jacksonville’s Main Street Bridge will remain closed to vehicular traffic until mid-October, following an incident on August 19 in which a vessel struck the bridge, causing electrical damage.
The Florida Department of Transportation has announced that motorists should use the Acosta Bridge as an alternate route during this period.
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
“I’ll be late to work everyday,” Shanti Pryor, who drives on the Main Street Bridge, said. “I feel like it’s very crazy that they’re closing it down, like it’s a big inconvenience.”
FDOT said the closure is necessary to allow crews to repair the damage sustained in the incident.
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
“It’s going to create for some interesting traffic patterns and just commuting problems in general,” Cassie Livingston, who takes the Main Street Bridge twice a week, said.
FDOT awarded Seacoast, Inc. a $2.1 million contract to repair the electrical components of the bridge. The project is expected to be completed by mid-October, if severe weather and unforeseen circumstances do not arise.
Intermittent full bridge detours will happen between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. to facilitate testing and completion of the repairs.
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
The initial incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. on August 19, and FDOT crews conducted a safety assessment before reopening the bridge to traffic later that morning.
Livingston said during the closure, she plans to get on the road a little earlier until the repairs are complete.
Motorists are encouraged to stay informed about lane closures and roadwork by following FDOT District 2 on social media or visiting nflroads.com.
Real-time traffic alerts are available at www.FL511.com or through the FL511 app.
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
