A multi-vehicle crash on I-295 East just before the Dames Point Bridge turned Thursday morning’s commute into a headache for Jacksonville drivers, shutting down eastbound lanes and leaving several people injured, according to officials. Tow trucks, ambulances and state troopers crowded the East Beltway as traffic ground to a halt and backups stretched across the northside.
All lanes on I-295 at the Heckscher Drive interchange were blocked and traffic was being diverted by the Florida Highway Patrol, as reported by News4JAX. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office units also responded, and the outlet noted that motorists should brace for significant delays while crews work to reopen the roadway.
The Florida Highway Patrol logged the crash at about 9:53 a.m., and multiple emergency vehicles were reported on scene, according to First Coast News. That report said eastbound I-295 was blocked at Heckscher Drive while first responders routed traffic through the median, a workaround that also slowed westbound drivers and stacked up even more cars in both directions.
Why this stretch snarls commutes
The I-295 corridor around the Dames Point Bridge is notorious for turning ugly fast when a crash shuts lanes. Once traffic is squeezed off the interstate, it spills onto nearby surface streets and interchanges, choking the East Beltway’s alternate routes. As a deadly ramp crash showed in late April, a single serious wreck can ripple across I-295 for hours.
What drivers should do
Motorists were urged to steer clear of the area while crews cleared the wreckage and investigators got to work, with local traffic services pushing alternate routes to get around the mess, according to News4JAX. Drivers heading across Jacksonville’s northside were told to expect delays on feeder roads and to pad their commute times until lanes fully reopen.
Florida Highway Patrol and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office personnel remained on scene as of late morning and said they were investigating what caused the crash. This report will be updated as state troopers and local agencies release additional details.
