JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Transportation has started construction on a new interchange to the Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, but it's hearing some complaints.
People who live near the construction areas have concerns, but FDOT says it's working to make changes for the better.
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The project is designed to alleviate truck traffic to the Tallyrand Jacksonville Port Authority facilities and will improve safety along the MLK Parkway. Traffic will exit MLK Parkway at Phoenix Avenue and directly connect with ramps to the port via 21st Street. Traffic leaving the port will be able to travel to MLK Parkway from 21st Street.
"It's a significant change to the neighborhood just because we had to purchase property up there," FDOT spokesman Mike Goldman said. "There's an area required for retention ponds for drainage."
That significant change has people speaking out. There was a community meeting held Wednesday night with people who live in the area and members of FDOT. Ruby McNeal has lived in her home right beside the construction site for 41 years, and she attended the meeting and shared her issues.
"It doesn't make me feel too good," McNeal said. "I'm 80 years old. I may need rescue. I might need the policemen."
"They expressed some concerns, which we're trying to resolve, mostly about pedestrian traffic along 21st Street and how some of the kids can get to a park in there," Goldman said.
Another part of the project affects the Henry L. Brown Cooker Park. Workers are going to lengthen the football field and add a lighted parking lot.
"I know if they're going to make things better, trying to make things better, but they didn't consider us," McNeal said.
Although McNeal is upset about the road project, she thinks what FDOT is planning to do with the park is beneficial to the children in the neighborhood, and she's not alone.
"I think it's a great help in keeping them off the streets and the crime and stuff that they normally would be doing, so I think it's nice for them," said Curtis Walker, who lives near the park.
FDOT is spending $30.5 million on construction and design cost and $13.1 million for nearly 21 acres it'll use for the project. The plan includes five new bridges and drainage improvements to the area, including six new ponds to collect storm water.
FDOT anticipates construction to last through late 2013.