The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in the US has revealed plans to proceed with the First Coast Outer Beltway project.
The estimated cost of the project is $291 million and will be funded by Florida Turnpike Enterprise.The project involves turning Florida 23, known as Branan Field Road, into a 15-mile toll road from Interstate 10 to Blanding Boulevard
The project will be delivered in two phases, where contract will be awarded for the northern segment from I-10 to Argyle Forest Boulevard with construction beginning in fall 2012 with completion in three years.
The next segment from Blanding Boulevard north to Argyle will begin in the Spring of 2013 and is expected to be completed by 2016.The project will alleviate congestion and improve economic development in Clay, Duval and St. Johns counties.
Tolls will be collected using the fully automated system called SunPass which does not require toll booths, instead allowing traffic to drive through a gantry that automatically deducts the toll from a credit card account.