First Coast Expressway to connect Clay, St. Johns counties

The Florida Department of Transportation shared details about the next phase of the First Coast Expressway during a recent open house meeting. This is a significant infrastructure project that will expand connectivity in North St. Johns County. 

The project will connect the First Coast Expressway construction in Clay County to St. Johns County with the construction of a new four-lane bridge over the St. Johns River just south of the Shands Bridge. The design-build team of WGI, Inc., Johnson Bros. Corporation and American Bridge was selected to complete the project at a cost of approximately $595 million. 

The vertical clearance height of the new bridge will be 65 feet from the water line, compared to the existing 45 feet of clearance. The additional 20 feet will match the Buckman Bridge’s clearance and is an improvement for marine commerce in the region.

From there the project will be completed in phases to ultimately connect to Interstate 95 between the CR 210 exit and the World Golf Parkway exit. One phase of the First Coast Expressway consists of a new four-lane limited-access toll facility from east of the County Road 16A to east of County Road 2209 in St. Johns County. 

De Moya Asphalt Joint Venture was awarded the contract to construct this project, which includes milling and resurfacing, earthwork, subsoil excavation, base work, shoulder treatment, drainage improvements, curb and gutter, traffic signals, lighting, highway signing, guardrail, box culverts, bridges, MSE walls, sidewalks/bicycle path, intelligent transportation systems, tolling, and other incidental construction. 

The entire project is expected to be completed by 2030.