JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Plans are in place to accommodate the thousands of fans headed to downtown Jacksonville for the Florida-Georgia game. That includes street closures, new traffic patterns and parking options fans will want to know before they come downtown.
Police have already shut down several streets to prepare for the festivities. Hogan and Pearl streets are closed from Water Street to the St. Johns River. Coastline Drive is shut down from the Landing to Newnan Street. And Independent Drive is closed between Hogan and Laura streets.
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Near the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, A. Philip Randolph Boulevard is shut down from Duval Street to Adams Street.
Traffic will be heavy all day Saturday, especially on Bay Street. That's why beginning at 9 a.m., three of the lanes will run eastbound toward the stadium.
All the bridges will be open, including the Mathews Bridge, which is currently undergoing construction.
General parking spaces near the stadium usually run out about five hours before kickoff. All of the private lots that charge about $10 to $20 to park run out just as fast.
Florida State College at Jacksonville's downtown campus at 101 W. State St. will have 2,000 free parking spaces available. There will be a shuttle bus offered for $7 roundtrip, which will run for four hours before kickoff and for two hours after the game ends.
There will be free parking at the Skyway Convention Center stop on Bay Street, located across from the Prime Osborne Convention Center at 1000 Water Street, with roundtrip shuttle bus services for $7.
Fans can also park on the Southbank and take the Jacksonville Transportation Authority shuttle for $7. The water taxi also leaves from the bank and costs $5 per person during Florida-Georgia weekend.
For more information on gameday traffic, go to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Facebook page.