JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The I-95 southbound ramp to the I-295 east beltway near the Avenues Mall is scheduled to close from 8 p.m. Wednesday to 5:30 a.m. Thursday.
Southbound I-95 traffic trying to exit onto I-295 eastbound will be forced to exit at Philips Highway south before making its way back onto I-295 east.
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The closure is caused by the replacement of two bridge expansion joints on the ramp, part of a larger project replacing expansion joints on the northbound and southbound ramps of the interchanges.
Bridge expansion joints absorb movement caused by high traffic volumes, high winds and contraction and expansion from temperature variations.
The seven joints are embedded in the roadway and removed through a combination of hydro-blasting and concrete demolition. The majority of the work occurs between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. during the week and some weekends. Temporary steel plates installed across the roadway cover the work areas by day and are re-accessed each night for demolition and replacement work. Asphalt aprons are placed around the plates to ease the transition from the road to the plate. Drivers should drive with caution when approaching the plates and be alert for “Bump Ahead” signs placed in the area. The speed limit is 50 mph on the ramps.
The $1.1 million project began in December 2016 and is expected to be complete this spring, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.