The Independent Drive ramp to the southbound Main Street Bridge will close permanently April 15 as crews prepare to demolish it, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
During construction, the west pedestrian sidewalk of the bridge will be closed. Pedestrians will be detoured to the east pedestrian access to the bridge.
Motorists that previously used the ramp will have to head over to W. Bay Street and then turn left onto Main St.
Superior Construction was awarded the $584,000 project, which is expected to be completed this summer.
The ramp project follows the 2019 demolition of The Jacksonville Landing, which was next to the ramp. City leaders have been talking since at least 2014 about the idea of demolishing the ramp with visions of redeveloping the immediate area.
WJCT News partner the Jacksonville Daily Record reported that three national firms have been selected to compete in a riverfront park design competition for what is currently a grassy public area next to the ramp.
The future of the old Landing site is far from certain, but based on current Downtown Investment Authority planning, at least part of the land is likely to remain a park-like public space.
In the interim, the area is being called Riverfront Plaza and is being used for public events such as the upcoming Jax River Jam Concert Series and Boss of the Sauce BBQ Festival.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
