ORANGE PARK – Members of the community got an exclusive look at the new First Coast Expressway during the ninth annual summit on Wednesday. 

The anticipated project by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), is said to increase area development by creating a 46-mile, four-lane divided toll road with seven interchanges in Clay County. 

Hosted by the Clay Florida Economic Development Corporation, the event welcomed local county officials, leaders and partners to take a peek at just how much work is being done, and how much there is left to complete. 

Here are some updates:

• Construction for the new $595 million bridge over the St. John’s River is set to hit some big milestones in the next year. The bridge will completely replace the existing Shands Bridge and consist of two lanes on each side, emergency shoulders on both sides of the road and a sheer-reduce path on the bridge’s northern side for pedestrians and cyclists. According to FDOT, bridge and roadway construction will ramp up and residents can expect to see an in-water deep foundation driven pile with a concrete substructure. Ground improvements will begin in March, followed by embankment construction. Residents can also expect to begin seeing cranes and barges in the middle of the river. FDOT said they don’t foresee any major traffic changes for 2025.

• Construction from State Road 21 to North of State Road 16 is set to be completed by this summer. The $229 million project began in 2019; FDOT said it will include a new multi-lane, limited access, 11-mile toll roadway, a new drainage system, new lighting, signs and guardrails, 26 new bridges including two over Black Creek and a diverging diamond interchange at Henley Road. 

• Construction from North of State Road 16 to East of County Road 209 has an anticipated completion date of early 2026, according to FDOT. The $180 million project will include 9.7 miles of a new multi-lane, limited access toll road, drainage system, traffic signals, lighting, signs, guardrails and two new electronic toll facilities. During the next year, residents can expect the area to be open to traffic to at least U.S. 17, as well completion of a final lift of asphalt friction course, relocation of the First Coast Expressway connection at Leonard C. Taylor Parkway, completion of tolling structures, plus completion of lighting and ITS components.

• The next 4.4-mile segment at East of County Road 2209 to East of County Road 16A is set to be completed in 2030. The $242.6 million project will include an interchange at County Road 2209. In the next year, FDOT said residents can expect ongoing project embankment, utility relocations, MSE walls started, bridge construction at all 12 bridge locations, fabrication of overhead signs, and fabrication of a toll building and gantry. 

• Lastly, later this year, FDOT said it will commence the final segment of the expressway, from Interstate 95 to East of County Road 2209. The $390 million project is set to be complete in 2031 and will consist of a 2.3-mile multi-lane major interchange at I-95.