by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
The Wonderwood Connector bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway isn’t scheduled to open until June, but the City Council and Duval County Legislative Delegation have already mounted a campaign to name it for former U.S. Rep. Charles Bennett.
According to Council president Lad Daniels, a resolution addressing the bridge’s name will be introduced tonight and referred to the Rules and Transportation, Technology, Environment & Energy committees.
Council members Jerry Holland, Lake Ray, Warren Alvarez and Lynette Self — their Council districts include and flank the three-phased Wonderwood expansion project — have already signed on as bill co-sponsors, and Daniels said the it will likely pass in a relatively short amount of time.
“What we’d like to do is have this resolution be included in a package being put together by (State Rep.) Don Davis,” said Daniels. “He is a big proponent of naming the bridge for (Bennett) and I also believe it is very important we commemorate Charles Bennett in this way. It’s very fitting for a man of his stature.
“We’re working quickly on this so we can make it into the State Legislature’s current session. Otherwise we’ll have to wait another year after the bridge is already open.”
Bennett, who served in the U.S. House for 44 years, was a primary advocate behind other Arlington and Mayport projects, including the Ft. Caroline National Memorial and the Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve.
“As I understand it, he lived in the area for a long time and also had a lot to with securing necessary military funding,” said Holland.
Part of a three-segment, $132 million Florida Department of Transportation project, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority has coordinated bridge construction efforts since 1999.
JTA spokesperson Mike Miller said he was aware of the Council bill, but maintained the State would have final say over naming rights. He declined comment on when a formal statement announcing the name would be released.