by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
The construction of new buildings are not the only changes that are being done at the University of North Florida’s (UNF) campus. Road construction is also on the horizon.
Construction to reroute Kernan Boulevard is tentatively scheduled to begin in late 2009. The project was recently brought to City Council by UNF’s Board of Trustees.
Once the project is complete, it will allow the university to expand its current campus. Already in that area, the university purchased the old AOL Building and they are in the process of purchasing the Auchter Building, said UNF President John Delaney. The school recently broke ground on a new residence hall, Osprey Fountains, in that same area.
The City of Jacksonville plans to realign Kernan Boulevard by widening First Coast Technology Parkway to six lanes and reconfiguring portions of First Coast Technology Parkway to permit is substitution as Kernan Boulevard.
First Coast Technology Parkway will remain where it is now, but it will be widened and will serve as the new Kernan Boulevard once the project is complete. The current Kernan Boulevard will then become an internal road on UNF’s campus.
Bob Dyr, a senior project manager for the City, said this specific section of Kernan Boulevard is the sixth phase of the “Kernan Boulevard (JTB-McCormick)” project.
“Currently we are working on phase three,” he said.
The phases leading up to Phase 6: Kernan-First Coast Technology Parkway are:
• Phase 3: Kernan between Beach and Atlantic boulevards
• Phase 4: Kernan between Beach Boulevard and Glen Kernan Parkway
• Phase 5: Kernan between Atlantic Boulevard and McCormick Road
“A preliminary study has been done,” said Dyer about Phase 6. “There is no definite time this phase will begin, but the earliest it could possibly begin would be the end of 2009.
“It is a very large project, so it can’t be done all in one shot.”
Ordinance 2007-252 was amended by the Council’s Finance Committee after it was first brought to City Council. The amended ordinance, 2007-252-E, appropriates $4.5 million to fund the Kernan-First Coast Technology Parkway phase. Of that, $1.4 million will come from the City’s Fair Share Sector 3-4 Fund and $3.1 million will come from the Fair Share Specific Project (UNF Campus) Fund.
“We had requested $5.7 million, but we didn’t get it,” said Dyr about receiving $1.4 million. “When we requested that, there was approximately $4.3 million already scheduled for other phases.”
Dyr said this does not necessarily mean all of the phases won’t get done.
“We have to see how much money is left from phase one,” he added.
Delaney said the project is unrelated to the new residence hall being built, but will allow the university to expand.
“We purchased about 50-60 acres of land behind the old AOL building,” said Delaney. “Kernan Boulevard will swing east and the existing Kernan Boulevard will become part of our campus.”
Delaney said the university had extra money for traffic improvements. UNF’s Board of Trustees brought the Campus Development Agreement before City Council for approval.
This map shows the old Kernan Road with the proposed route.