People in Orange Park are making illegal turns at a new intersection. FDOT is working with police for more enforcement

ORANGE PARK, Fla. – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) said it is working with local police after some people have been having trouble following the rules at a newly configured intersection in Orange Park.

Concerned driver Mark Cornett first told us about the issue and shared videos of people using a center through lane as a turn lane at the intersection of U.S. 17 and Wells Road. Cornett said it’s been going on for days and he’s grown frustrated.

News4JAX asked FDOT if it was aware of the issue and it said it has been working with the Orange Park Police Department to increase enforcement in the area where people are turning from Wells Road north onto 17. FDOT also said additional signage alerting drivers to the new configuration has been added.

“The project team continues to monitor traffic flow at the intersection to optimize signal timing throughout the project and identify any additional opportunities for improvement,” an FDOT spokesperson wrote in a statement.

The intersection of U.S. 17 and Wells Road is within the project limits of FDOT’s I-295 and U.S. 17 interchange improvements and resurfacing project. The intersection of U.S. 17 and Wells Road was placed into final configuration overnight on Sept. 7.

The $30 million project includes the following improvements:

• Widening U.S. 17 from north of the southbound I-295 exit ramp to Collins Road
• Installing new signals at the intersections of U.S. 17 and Wells Road, U.S. 17 and Old Orange Park Road, U.S. 17 and Eldridge Avenue and U.S. 17 and the southbound I-295 exit ramps
• Constructing new walls to accommodate sidewalks on U.S. 17 under the I-295 bridge
• Constructing a 10-foot sidewalk on the north side of Eldridge Avenue
• Widening Eldridge Avenue and constructing a 6-foot sidewalk on the south side of the roadway and a 10-foot sidewalk/bike path on the north side of the roadway
• Realigning the southbound I-295 exit ramps to include three right turn lanes and two left turn lanes
• Realigning the northbound I-295 exit ramps to include three right turn lanes and three left turn lanes
• Adding an additional lane to the southbound I-295 entrance ramp
• Milling and resurfacing existing roadway throughout the project limits