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    1. Bus
    2. Infrastructure

    JTA celebrates 30th anniversary of the Dames Point Bridge

    March 12, 2019
    Once dubbed the “bridge to nowhere," Dames Point now serves as a cornerstone of Jacksonville’s transportation infrastructure.
    Related To: Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA)
    Jacksonville Transportation Authority
    JTA CEO Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., left, remarking on the significance of the 30th Anniversary of the completion of the Dames Point Bridge.
    JTA CEO Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., left, remarking on the significance of the 30th Anniversary of the completion of the Dames Point Bridge.

    The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) highlighted a milestone in the growth of the city’s transportation infrastructure with the 30th anniversary celebration of the completion of the Napoleon Bonaparte Broward Bridge – better known simply as the Dames Point Bridge.

    “Today marks an important reminder of the kind of vision and leadership the JTA has demonstrated – and continues to demonstrate – to meet the transportation needs of our businesses and citizens,” said JTA Chairman Kevin Holzendorf.

    The 175-feet high, 10,600-feet long bridge is one of the largest cable-stayed bridges in America, with 21 miles of cable. Over the 30 years since its completion it has become an integral part of Jacksonville’s transportation infrastructure, first as a portion of State Road 9A, now Interstate 295.

    “Just as the Board of Directors who saw the significance of the Dames Point Bridge, today’s JTA Board has a vision of a Jacksonville that leads in providing dynamic mobility solutions,” said JTA CEO Nathaniel P. Ford, Sr. “It’s a vision that continues to position the JTA as an innovative standard for the rest of the nation, and a vision that meets the needs of our citizens for 30 years into the future and more.”

    Today’s innovative programs include the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center at LaVilla, to be completed by February 2020 and the Ultimate Urban Circulator, or U2C, now in development.

    The Dames Point Bridge supports nearly 75,000 vehicles a day. It has facilitated robust growth from River City Marketplace to Oceanway, both thriving communities, a seamless access point to the Port and Airport, and has better integrated the beach communities with the city at large.

    “What was once the ‘Bridge to Nowhere’ is now a ‘Bridge of Opportunity, Reliability, and Prosperity,” said Ford.

    Other attendees at the El Faro/Dames Point Park ceremony included City Council Member Al Ferraro, City Council Member Greg Anderson, City Council Member Danny Becton, and Charles E. Moreland representing Mayor Lenny Curry. Also attending the celebration were family members of former JTA Chairman John Lanahan and Larry Wehner, JTA Dames Point Bridge project manager.