The Florida Department of Transportation has started construction to build frontage roads that will become part of the First Coast Outer Beltway roadway system, according to a news release.
The project involves constructing northbound and southbound frontage roads on each side of the future beltway. Both will be two-lane roads of 3.1 miles each way and begin at Old Jennings Road near Middleburg and end north of Oakleaf Plantation Parkway. Each will be part of an alternate, free beltway road system for local traffic.
According to the release, the roads should be finished in late 2013 and cost $13.2 million to construct, with the second section from Argyle Forest Boulevard to Interstate 10 to begin by 2013.
Another segment from State Road 21 to Argyle Forest Boulevard should start in late 2013 or early 2014 and the entire 15-mile roadway should be open to traffic in 2016, according to the release.
The Jacksonville office of Hubbard Construction Co. has been hired by FDOT to build the frontage roads.
The entire planned beltway project, including the 15-mile initial stretch, will connect I-10 in Duval County to Interstate 95 to in St. Johns County and will use tolls through a managed-lane system as a convenience. Motorists will still be able to use non-tolled lanes for traveling.