The Shands Bridge project, initially slated for a two-weekend closure, wrapped up ahead of schedule, sparing drivers another weekend of detours between Clay and St. Johns counties.

The bridge will close at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9 and reopen by 4 a.m. Monday, Jan. 12.

A new 18-mile stretch of the First Coast Expressway is expected to open as early as this weekend in Clay County—well ahead of its original projected completion date in spring 2026.

As part of bridge maintenance activities, lane closures with a flagging operation will be in place on the Shands Bridge starting at noon on Wednesday, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

According to the Florida Department of Transportation, some parts of the Shands Bridge will be demolished, while others will remain accessible for pedestrian use and fishing.

Drivers may soon start noticing construction popping out of the St. Johns River as the new bridge structure for the Shands Bridge project begins to take shape.

The Shands Bridge is back open after being shut down due to a crash and a fuel spill, according to St. Johns County Fire Rescue.

The Shands Bridge will be closed from Friday night until Monday morning for grating replacement, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

An 84-year-old man was killed in Clay County after a crash that closed down the Shands Bridge on Monday afternoon.

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJCSO) is searching for someone who fell off a boat and into the St. Johns River on Friday afternoon.

Traffic had to be detoured off I-295 southbound before the Buckman Bridge on Thursday morning after the Florida Highway Patrol received reports that a span of the bridge had been lifted slightly at a joint.

Three people were killed and five others were injured early Saturday morning in a head-on collision of a pickup truck and an SUV on State Road 13, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. One person is dead after a crash near the Shands Bridge. The Florida Highway Patrol said three vehicles were involved. Drivers should expect heavy delays near SR-16 at Susan Drive. FHP said it was a possible head-on collision. This article will be updated as additional information becomes available.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. - A crash involving a cement truck and a car snarled traffic Monday morning on the Shands Bridge, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said the driver in the car was flown to the hospital to be treated for injuries. The cement truck overturned near the base of the bridge on the St. Johns County side, according to the Sheriff's Office. Live, interactive map of Jacksonville traffic. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.