JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For those who drive through Mandarin frequently, it's no surprise to hear about how busy traffic can get.
It's not just on weekdays on the commute to work or school, but also on weekends.
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That's why drivers will soon see construction workers near Interstate 295 at San Jose Boulevard.
Florida Department of Transportation reports show 58,500 cars travel in the Mandarin area daily. To ease up congestion, traffic officials plan to reconstruct side streets and interstate ramps, extend turn lanes, modify overhead signage, add a traffic signal near the area Walmart, and also improve drainage and sidewalks near Claire Lane.
Many people who commute in the area are glad to hear about the upcoming project. Business managers say they are tired of seeing backups and wrecks out their windows.
"It's a routine occurrence, not usually major ones, but minor fender benders," said Tim Thies, manager of Batteries Plus. "Folks having issues merging, so there is something there to be solved for sure."
"It's a standstill out there, you know, usually around around rush hour, especially during the holidays with Christmas, and the traffic to turn into Walmart is stacked past (I-)295," said Fred Schrimm, owner of Mandarin Mill Family Golf.
Mandarin residents also echo a similar response.
"There are too many accidents in the area, there's too much traffic, and it's been a long time coming," resident Nancy Walker said.
One of the biggest changes drivers will see is the medians on San Jose Boulevard will be shut down. The first phase of construction will involve working on the ramps and drainage improvements at San Jose and I-295.
FDOT said a huge priority is to keep the businesses in the area happy.
"It's so intensive commercially, we don't want the construction to disrupt any business flow," FDOT spokesman Mike Goldman said.
Goldman also adds there is an open meeting at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the South Mandarin Regional Library about the project to answer any questions people may have.
Roadwork will begin Monday. Lanes will be closed between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. only on weekdays. The project is expected to be complete in about a year.