First section of concrete poured in 9B overpass

Overpass to connect with Race Track Road in northern St. Johns County

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Early Tuesday morning, crews poured the first section of concrete in the State Road 9B overpass that will connect with Race Track Road in northern St. Johns County. 

The latest step in construction is part of Phase 3 of the 9B project, which has extended across Northeast Florida.

Drivers are excited about the project, as it should relieve a lot of traffic congestion caused by St. Johns County's growth.

John Williams, who owns Williams Athletics off Race Track Road, drives to the store every day from St. Augustine. He said the commute has changed greatly in the nine years he's ran his business. 

"When I first moved here many, many years ago, it was a two-lane road and part of it was dirt," Williams said. "Now, to see this and to see what's happening and the traffic."

Williams said he looks forward to the completion of Project Race Track, which will connect Race Track Road to S.R. 9B and make it easier to connect to Interstate 95. 

The Florida Department of Transportation told News4Jax that the new stretch of road will be 2.3 miles and have overpasses over Race Track Road, Peyton Parkway, Durbin Creek and Russell Sampson Road. 

Another part of the project coming along Tuesday was a pedestrian bridge in the Durbin Crossing area. It will eventually go over St. Johns Parkway and connect to the other side. 

Williams thinks the completion of the overpass will not only improve his commute, but also help business.

"We get cars at least once a week from the big stores, saying, 'do you have something?' because we specialize in a lot of things and yes we do," he said. "So it will get those people here fast as well."

Williams and most other drivers in St. Johns County look forward to the project completion on track for this summer.

The completion of 9B should help most drivers in the area. It's expected to ease congestion on U.S. 1 and San Jose Boulevard.