JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Over a year since a part of Liberty Street collapsed into the St. Johns River, prompting the closure of one block of that street, part of Coastline Drive and the city parking lot behind the old Duval County Courthouse, the Florida Department of Transportation is closing more of the northbank riverfront to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
The closure was ordered after a Jan. 25 inspection by the Florida Department of Transportation found it "structurally deficient."
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Crews on Friday were putting up more signs to keep traffic off Coastline Drive, including the front of the Hyatt Riverfront Hotel. Customers must use a side entrance off Newnan Street. The hotel released a statement saying it is glad the city is addressing the issue.
The closure also affects pedestrians walking from the Jacksonville Landing to the Hyatt.
Mayor Lenny Curry has made repairs to Coastline Drive and Liberty Street a priority in the budget he proposed last July. Work was expected to begin in October, but the city is waiting on bids from two companies who might do the job and work is now expected to begin this summer. A preliminary estimate showed replacing the road and bridge could cost $22 million.
For people trying to get to and from the hotel, the additional roadblocks were very confusing.
"It's really a mess," said Vanessa, a driver who was trying to pick up customers at the hotel. "I got to go around all the other way to (get) them."
When repairs eventually begin, it's likely the parking lot will not be rebuilt. City officials are proposing turning the area into a marina.