Arlington commuters will face road closures in early August while the JEA works on its Total Water Management Plan.
The $50.7 million project includes horizontal directional drilling to install a water transmission pipeline near the Matthews bridge that will connect the water systems on both sides of the St. Johns River. Microtunneling was used to install the pipelines under the M.L.K. and Hart expressways.
The project is an effort by JEA to balance its water withdrawals from the Floridan aquifer.
The work will affect traffic patterns on the Matthews Bridge and Arlington Expressway.
From 7 p.m. Aug. 3 through 2 p.m. Aug. 9, JEA needs to shut down one of the two eastbound travel lanes and six ramps along the Arlington Expressway from the Matthews Bridge to the Arlington Road overpass.
Some closures already are evident.
Message signs are posted along the roadway to alert motorists of the change.
The project will begin Aug. 3 after the evening rush hour. JEA representatives have been in contact with City Council members to provide information on the project and the road issues and is mailing about 2,500 postcards to residents in the immediate areas affected by detours.
“We expect to get some calls on that Monday, the first time
people are driving home from work with the closures in place,” said JEA spokesman Greg Corcoran.
JEA will have a tow truck and ambulance at the section of Arlington Expressway that will be affected by the project to expedite response time if accidents occur.
JEA recommends detours to avoid traffic delays:
• Arlington residents who live north of the Arlington Expressway should use the Hart Bridge to Atlantic Boulevard to University Boulevard to Cesery Boulevard to Arlington Road North. At Arlington Road, either turn right to Rogero Road or left to University Boulevard.
• A secondary route for Arlington residents living north of the Arlington Expressway is Interstate 95 north to Heckscher Drive to the Dames Point Bridge to the Southside Connector to the Arlington Expressway heading toward Downtown. All of the westbound exit ramps will be open to access points north or south of the expressway.
• Commuters who normally use the Arlington Expressway to access Mill Creek Road, Southside Boulevard and points further to the east and the Beaches can continue to use the Arlington Expressway, although it will be reduced to one lane.
• Beaches residents who normally use the Arlington Expressway should take I-95 south to Butler Boulevard to Florida A1A/Third Street.
• Commuters who normally travel Atlantic Boulevard on their evening drive home can consider using Beach Boulevard.
• Commuters who normally travel Beach Boulevard on their way home can consider using Butler Boulevard.
The current project is being completed in six segments with six design consultants and, potentially, six installation contractors.
CH2M Hill is the program manager and is responsible for contract management, design review, construction management, quality management and support.
The project is scheduled for completion by September 2013.
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