by Anthony DeMatteo
Staff Writer
The Mathews Bridge will close to eastbound traffic for a 90-day period starting in April as the Florida Department of Transportation replaces its metal grating with concrete.
The westbound lane into town will be open and outgoing traffic will be detoured to the Hart Bridge and Atlantic Boulevard.
FDOT spokesman Mike Goldman said a $12.9 million bid for the grating replacement was awarded to PCL Civil Constructors, Inc. of Tampa.
“The solid concrete substance should reduce the bouncing effect people have complained about on the bridge,” said Goldman.
The safety of the bridge’s surface has been a debated and researched issue for years. In 2000, City Council passed a resolution urging the FDOT to investigate the grating and its role in the high number of bridge accidents. More than 300 were reported to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in 2003.
Goldman said FDOT previously planned to replace the grating with an “apoxy-type surface” last year, but plans were aborted after maintenance concerns arose.
A letter from FDOT to State Sen. Jim King notes the “exodermic deck system” to be installed on the bridge is similar to those on bridges in South Florida and New York. The letter also states supports beneath and above the driving surface will be replaced and strengthened.
Construction is scheduled to begin in February, with portions of the bridge’s barrier wall being removed to allow westbound traffic to shift eastbound. In Arlington, a crossover will be created near the old toll plaza in front of the Jones College Building. West of the grating, another crossover will be located on the bridge. The deck replacement is scheduled to begin in April, when the detour will go into effect.
During construction in February and March, the letter notes the contractor will be closing single lanes on the bridge as needed.