Open house to allow drivers to learn about I-295 project in Mandarin

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Transportation will hold an open house Thursday to discuss drivers' concerns with the upcoming toll road project on Interstate 295 between Interstate 95 and the Buckman Bridge.

The open house will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Mandarin Baptist Church.

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"(The project is) going to impact some traffic as we start going though the construction phase," FDOT spokesman Ron Tittle said.

There will be express lanes on I-295 between I-95 and the Buckman, and the open house is designed to answer any questions drivers may have, including how the work will affect their daily commute.

"If we don't have these express lanes built in there about the same time it's going to open up, we are going to have a lot more congestion," Tittle said.

SunPass, Florida's prepaid, electronic toll program, will be represented at the meeting to teach drivers how to use the system and set up accounts.

Construction will start in November but won't be full-speed until after the holidays. It will take about two years to complete.

FDOT hosted a similar meeting Tuesday night about a proposal to add express lanes on I-295 between State Road 9B and J. Turner Butler Boulevard.

"The express lane project on I-295 between JTB and 9B, that's in the proposal stages, so it's not too late for people to put their input in," Tittle said.

That construction date is up in the air because not everything is finalized. If everything goes as FDOT hopes, the project between 9B and JTB could start in June.