Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
June 7, 2014 7:55 a.m.
The Florida Department of Transportation has discovered a way to make you even hotter this summer. They will be closing A1A west of U.S. Hwy 17 between July 12-14 to replace the railroad crossing. If you will be heading to I-95 from Amelia Island during that period, you have some time to find an alternate route. The official detour map directs traffic north along Route 17 to the first Florida onramp to I-95. Of course, if you are heading in the direction of Jacksonville you can continue south on Route 17 and access I-95 via Pecan Road.
If your plans for that weekend involve a house party or picnic with out of town participants, be sure to let your friends know about the closure.
The crossing that is there is already a concrete crossing. Guess this will be a “new and improved” concrete crossing that will handle the heavy logging truck’s weight better. But the timing is horrible and why couldn’t this wait until the Fall?
DOT is nuts. Is 17 at the state line open yet ?? An 17 north of pecan park is down to one lane in the day time . We need an airport in Yulee so we can Fly.
God forbid they have the Northbound onramp to 95 closed on 17. Wow, just Wow. As it stands now the detour for those of us driving back to GA via 17 when the Northbound ramp is closed is to drive all the way down US17, make a U-turn at the closed ramp once you realize it’s closed drive all the way back down US17 and get back on A1A. Gee don’t you think it would be nice to have a warning at the beginning of 17 that the onramp is closed??!! Now with A1A being closed I guess they expect us to Drive to Hilliard via 108 to get to Kingsland/St. Marys?
What am I missing here? If you need to get to I-95 or even continue on to Callahan, simply go South on US 17 to William Burgess Road then west. If you need to be just on the other side of the RR crossing, then North on Harts Road. Otherwise continue on William Burgess past FSCJ and the Courthouse until you intersect A1A. Voila! You’re almost to I-95.
I have used these routes in the past when I found myself waiting for a train on A1A.