The Jacksonville Transportation Authority temporarily will close the St. Johns River Ferry starting Jan. 6 for about eight weeks to complete planned upgrades.
According to a Dec. 29 news release, the $6.6 million of work is the fourth phase is an improvement project funded by a U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration grant.
JTA says the work includes pavement rehabilitation and markings; Americans with Disabilities Act and catwalk access improvements; bulkhead and mooring bollard replacements; building upgrades; public restroom construction at the Mayport landing; and landscaping and lighting enhancements at both ferry landings.
While the upgrades are made, JTA will haul out the 25-year-old car and passenger vessel Jean Ribault for maintenance, which is required every two to three years by the U.S. Coast Guard. JTA officials say the work will avoid another closure later in 2021.
The cost is $2.6 million, according to the JTA release.
The Jean Ribault connects the north and south ends of Florida A1A, linking Mayport Village and Fort George Island via a 0.9-mile voyage across the St. Johns River.
In July, JTA was awarded $5.2 million through the FTA’s Passenger Ferry Grant Program to continue ferry improvements and upgrades. That’s in addition to a $3.9 million Passenger Ferry Grant the authority received in August 2019.
According to JTA, Phase III work was completed in January 2019 with upgrades to the vessel, as well as operational and other safety improvements like rehabilitated bulkheads, new terminal bridges and stopping mechanisms.