After more than two years of construction, the Sisters Creek Bridge was opened to traffic Monday.
The $44.2 million high-rise bridge is on Heckscher Drive over the St. Johns River and features two 12-foot travel lanes, 10-foot shoulders and 6-foot sidewalks on both sides of the bridge.
It replaces a 1950s-era drawbridge and will help with auto-marine conflicts and hurricane evacuation, according to a Florida Department of Transportation news release.
Removal of the existing bridge and final completion of the replacement is expected this fall.
The project was built by Archer Western and designed by RS&H Engineering.
Jaguars-Bucs practices at capacity, Packers game sold out
Jacksonville Jaguars events are filling up the stands pretty quickly.
The team announced this week that a set of joint practices with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today and Thursday are at capacity, with no further admittance. Capacity is 2,700 for the practices against the in-state team the Jaguars will face in its second preseason game Friday.
Additionally, the Jaguars said its first regular season game Sept. 11 against the Green Bay Packers is a sellout for single-game purchases. Some tickets remain as part of season-ticket packages and the team will release 150 standing-room-only tickets this week.
Prices on the open market for tickets to the game already average more than four times the season ticketholder price, according to a team personnel member in the news release.
For more information, visit jaguars.com.
EverBank, Jaguars team up for on-field sweepstakes
The Jacksonville Jaguars and EverBank are again partnering to let some fans lead the team on to the field during home games.
Winners of a sweepstakes through Dec. 13 will guide the team in pre-game ceremonies through the newly constructed south end zone entrance.
One grand prize winner will be selected for each home game and receive two club tickets, a parking pass, pregame sideline access and the opportunity to lead the team on the field. Others will win gift cards for team merchandise.
No purchase is necessary to enter.
To enter and for more information, visit everbank.com/prowl.
Chappell Schools back at FSCJ Kent Campus
Chappell Schools had a grand reopening of its child care center at Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Kent Campus on Monday.
The center serves students and Kent Campus faculty along with the general public.
The Kent Campus spot is the smallest Chappell location, licensed for 24 students.
The Jacksonville-based organization was founded more than 50 years ago and provides child development services.
For enrollment information, call Irma Rodriguez at (904) 381-3445 or email at [email protected].
Brightway Insurance honored third straight year by industry publication
For the third year in a row, Jacksonville-based Brightway Insurance has been named a “Top 20 Agency Partnership” by the Insurance Journal, which focuses on the property and casualty insurance industry.
The list ranks aggregators, clusters and franchise groups by 2015 total property and casualty insurance revenue.
Brightway was named the 13th largest in the U.S., the same ranking it held last year. It is the No. 7 privately held personal lines agency in the country.
For more information, visit brightwaydifference.com.
Julie Gaines joins FirstAtlantic Bank
FirstAtlantic Bank has added Julie Gaines as a vice president and senior commercial relationship manager.
Her responsibilities include developing customer relationships for businesses and professionals.
Gaines has 25 years of financial services experience and most recently was with LSQ Funding Group.
She has a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Florida State University.
FirstAtlantic has headquarters in Jacksonville and eight locations in Northeast Florida, along with $429 million in assets.
Boston Pops coming in February
The Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra has scheduled a Jacksonville stop for 8 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts.
The group, nicknamed “America’s Orchestra,” began with the modern-era Pops by Arthur Fiedler and performs in styles that range from jazz to pop, indie rock to big band and film music. It is the most recorded orchestra in the country.
Tickets start at $44.25 plus fees and are available at fscjartistseries.org or by calling (904) 442-2929.
Lankford named editor at Buzz Magazine
Jasmin Lankford has joined Buzz Magazine as its editor-in-chief.
The publication is part of Client Focused Media and highlights concerts, events and news in Northeast Florida.
Lankford will manage the editorial aspects of the publication. She earned a bachelor’s degree in magazine production from the University of South Florida.
Crowley promotes Eric Evans to VP
Crowley Maritime Corp. has promoted Eric Evans to vice president of strategy, a newly created position to focus on long-term growth through external business partnerships. That includes mergers and acquisitions.
Evans most recently was vice president of finance and planning for the Jacksonville-based company. Since 2013, he has worked on Crowley Petroleum Services’ strategic plan for growth and investment.
The graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School joined the company in 1987.
Crowley has six operating lines of business and provides project solutions along with energy and logistics services in domestic and international markets.