The initiative aims to address the pressing need for safer pedestrian thoroughfares in Jacksonville Beach, where bustling traffic often makes crossing the street a challenge. With the addition of these crosswalks, complete with safety lights, both pedestrians and drivers can expect a more secure and organized flow of movement.

Local residents, such as Alan Hackney, have expressed relief at the forthcoming improvements. “We were just on a quick break from work, went for a walk,” Hackney shared as he described a recent experience navigating the busy 3rd Street. Without the assistance of a crosswalk, crossing the street can feel like a daunting task—a sentiment echoed by many others in the community.

By implementing these new safety measures, FDOT is not only promoting pedestrian welfare but also ensuring that Jacksonville Beach remains a welcoming and safe environment for all its visitors and residents. As the project progresses, drivers and pedestrians alike are encouraged to stay alert and adapt to the new traffic patterns introduced by these crosswalks.

That walk led Alan Hackney to face a daunting task: crossing 3rd Street without the help of a crosswalk.

It’s the most stressful part of a trek he makes pretty regularly.

“When we’re alone, we get to walk across 3rd Street, but with the kids, we have to go about four blocks down to find a crosswalk,” said Hackney. 

Hackney’s days of seeking refuge in the median while halfway across at 7th Avenue North may be coming to an end.

FDOT announced plans for two new crosswalks with overhead beacons to stop traffic.

“The reason they started that is all because of safety,” said Brie Isom with FDOT. “We want to make sure pedestrians are safe when they’re leaving the beach and crossing the street. We want to make sure drivers are safe.”

Isom says the crosswalks will feature a pedestrian hybrid beacon to alert drivers when someone is crossing the street – almost identical to the one about five blocks South at Second Avenue North.

The other new crosswalk will go in at 3rd Avenue South. Jacksonville Beach Mayor Chris Hoffman agreed with a Facebook comment on FDOT’s post that pointed out this is only about a block South of the traffic light with a crosswalk at 2nd Avenue South.

First Coast News asked Isom why these two spots were picked for the new crosswalks.

“Before construction projects are started, they undergo traffic studies,” Isom said. “We just felt these two areas have a lot of traffic. We just feel as though it would be our safest option to put the crosswalk there.”

Hackney hopes the improvement will not only make his walks on his breaks safer, but a bit quicker, too.

“You can cross fairly quickly,” said Hackney. “That would be quite nice here.”

FDOT reports the new crosswalks should be in and switched on by this Fall.

They don’t have any plans in the works to add them anywhere else along 3rd Street at the moment, but that’s something they’ll continue studying to determine if they’re necessary.