JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Update: In a news release sent to First Coast News on Thursday, JEA says residents and/or businesses have access and are allowed to drive within the work area. Please observe all construction signs, detours and general directions provided by the crews working on-site, JEA says.
After the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office issued a traffic notification about a backup on I-295 Wednesday afternoon, the Florida Department of Transportation now says congestion to the area could persist for more than a week.
The traffic is due to a sanitary sewer break on Merrill Road at Ft. Caroline Road. All eastbound lanes on Merrill Road near Fort Caroline Road are closed down. FDOT says it will last through early May.
JEA is working to fix the break, according to Spokesperson Karen McAllister. They do not know yet how long it will take.
For the safety of our crews, dewatering pumps to remove ground water will be required prior to excavation. These pump systems will operate continually throughout the project. JEA will also be required to install a temporary, above ground sewer by-pass piping system to divert the sewage to a nearby manhole while the work is completed.
This work will not impact your normal JEA electric, water, or sewer service.
If you are trying to come off of Fort Caroline road and go east on Merrill Road, you will have to go the other way and take a detour from Merrill Road to I-295, to Monument Road back to Ft. Caroline Road. This detour is pictured below, with the sewer main break between the blue line and red line.
