Demolition of the Hart Bridge Expressway ramps Downtown is underway.
On April 9, workers and heavy equipment removed concrete and rebar from the ramp structures east of the WJCT studios at 100 Festival Park Ave., off East Bay Street and Gator Bowl Boulevard near TIAA Bank Field.
The project is expected to disrupt traffic for about 18 months.
The demolition will support Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan’s estimated $2.5 billion redevelopment of the Shipyards properties and Lot J near the stadium and Metropolitan Park.
Project contractor J.B. Coxwell will complete the demolition and rebuild the road.
The project calls for removing part of the Hart Bridge ramp at Liberty Street between Gator Bowl and A. Philip Randolph boulevards, bringing a portion of the expressway to street level and aligning the new roadway.
Construction of a signalized intersection at Gator Bowl Boulevard is part of the project.
The city budgeted $38.9 million for the roadwork, and J.B. Coxwell bid $25.4 million.
City Council appropriated $12.46 million of Florida Department of Transportation grant funds toward the project.
The remainder of the money comes from a $12.5 million federal transportation grant, $12.5 million from city borrowed funds and $1.5 million transferred from other city projects.
Traffic detours began April 4 for Hart Bridge commuters in and out of Downtown.
City officials expect the project to be complete by year-end 2021.
