Florida Department of Transportation
Press Release
Contact: Sara Pleasants
[email protected]
July 9, 2019 3:00 p.m.
Motorists may pay via SunPass or TOLL-BY-PLATE with all-electronic toll systems.
Toll collection will begin Saturday, July 13 on the first phase of the First Coast Expressway (State Road 23), which connects U.S. 90/I-10 in Duval County to Blanding Boulevard (State Road 21) in Clay County.
The tolled portion of the roadway begins south of New World Avenue and currently ends at Blanding Boulevard until construction of the next segment of roadway is completed. No tolls will be collected on the First Coast Expressway between U.S. 90 and New World Avenue.
Traffic will pass through electronic toll gantries without stopping, and cash will not be accepted on the roadway. The gantries contain electronic equipment that will either detect the vehicle’s active, properly mounted SunPass or interoperable transponder or will record an image of the vehicle’s license plate to send a TOLL-BY-PLATE invoice by mail.
SunPass users pay a lower toll rate on the First Coast Expressway and avoid the $2.50 monthly administrative fee associated with TOLL-BY-PLATE. Motorists can purchase SunPass transponders at area Publix, CVS and Walgreens stores, as well as online at www.SunPass.com.
The First Coast Expressway project is the result of a partnership between the Florida Department of
Transportation District 2 and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise. This multi-lane, limited access, all-electronic toll facility project will ultimately span 46 miles across parts of Duval, Clay and St. Johns counties. The First Coast Expressway will drive economic development in Northeast Florida and create a new regional evacuation route during hurricanes and other emergencies.
Construction began this spring on the second phase of the First Coast Expressway from Blanding Boulevard to east of County Road 209 in Clay County. Work on the final phase, which includes a new bridge over the St. Johns River and connection to I-95 in St. Johns County, is expected to begin by 2023.
To learn more about the First Coast Expressway, visit www.FirstCoastExpressway.com. To learn more about the benefits of being a SunPass customer, please visit www.SunPass.com.