JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A pending Florida Department of Transportation construction project will add bike lanes to Hendricks Avenue between San Marco and Lakewood, but take away parking along that stretch of road.
The $5.4 million project that will also resurface the road is set to begin in January and be completed in the spring of 2019.
Thomas Benefield, who bikes to work, likes the idea.
"I have to look out for these people. They are not looking out for me," Benfield said of the motorists. "It's very scary."
Businesses in San Marco Square, which already deal with parking shortages, aren't thrilled to learn parking will go away only a couple feet away, but agreed bicyclists need a safer route.
"Taking out parking spaces could be a negative, especially during a busy holiday season, which we are kind of in right now," Chris McCaffrey said.
San Jose will be restriped and the parking lane will be converted into a bike lane from one block north of University Boulevard West to the fork with San Marco Boulevard, just south of Hendricks.
The FDOT will hold an open house to discuss the project from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church, Room D-4, 4001 Hendricks Ave.