The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will be providing staffing to help the Florida Department of Transportation implement the Mathews Bridge closure plan, scheduled to begin on April 16, 2007. For information specific to the bridge closure, alternate routes leading away from downtown, and complete project information please visit:   www.mathewsbridge.info .  

The eastbound side of the Mathews Bridge will close at 12:01 am on April 16, 2007 and remain closed during the duration of the construction project. Citizens will be able to travel westbound into downtown Jacksonville, but will be unable to drive eastbound (toward the beaches) via the Mathews Bridge at any time. An estimated 45,000 additional vehicles could be traveling on the detour route leading away from downtown during the work week. JSO is providing traffic control assistance along the FDOT designated detour.

“We greatly appreciate the FDOT’s approval of the off duty police officers we believe are necessary to effectively move traffic through the alternate route,” says Steve Weintraub, Chief of JSO’s Community Affairs and Special Events division.  “We are committed to supporting FDOT’s traffic plan to make this less difficult and as safe and orderly as possible, for the public.”

Citizens affected by the Mathews Bridge Closure are advised to use either the FDOT detour, or to plan their own alternate route. For example; those residents traveling eastbound with destinations at the beaches or East Arlington may consider using 9A, via Main Street or I-95 northbound from downtown.

Information can be located by going to www.coj.net/jso and clicking on the picture of the Mathews Bridge. From there you will find two links: to the Mathews Bridge Information Site and another link to our JAXGIS maps, which provide detailed information about Jacksonville and may be helpful in your planning of a route.

For further information on the Mathews Bridge Project please contact: Michael Goldman, Public Information Officer Florida Department of Transportation, 904-360-5457.