St. Johns County is set to embark on a significant overhaul of State Road 16 with two projects totaling over $25 million, which are aimed at easing traffic and enhancing safety measures for all modes of transportation. This development comes on the heels of the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners' approval at their recent meeting held on June 17.
The larger of the two projects, coming in at a hefty $21.46 million and awarded to C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc., will focus on widening the stretch of SR 16 from International Golf Parkway to County Road 2209 into four lanes. Reported by St. Johns County, the improvements are set also to include signal upgrades and enhancements to the intersection of SR 16 and IGP, along with the construction of a new intersection at SR 16 and CR 2209. Greg Caldwell, Public Works Director, shared his excitement: “We are ecstatic about moving ahead on these two critical road improvement projects."
The smaller project, with a budget of $4.34 million and given to Besch and Smith Civil Group, Inc., proposes to intensify safety measures at the intersections of SR 16 with Stratton Boulevard and Industry Center Road. The specifics of this project include the construction of four two-phase traffic signals, the addition of median openings, and the implantation of signal-protected crosswalks geared towards pedestrian safety. As reported by St. Johns County, these projects are part of a larger transportation initiative with 42 projects valued at over $205 million in the county's capital improvement program.
It's clear that these improvements are heavily backed with financial assistance from the Florida Department of Transportation via grants designed to support the enhancement of local infrastructure. Caldwell affirmed the importance of these updates: “These improvements will reduce traffic delays, increase roadway connectivity, and enhance the safety of drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians that use SR 16.” Residents and commuters who have been eagerly awaiting relief on the congested SR 16 corridor can likely expect to see progress in the near future, as noted by St. Johns County.
