Heavy Beach Traffic Expected for Seawalk Music Festival; I-95 Widening and Bridge Work Continue

Weekend Travel Advisory for Jacksonville

Good morning, Jacksonville. As we head into this Saturday, February 21, 2026, commuters and weekend explorers should prepare for significant congestion near the coast and several long-term construction projects on our major interstates. While the weather remains clear for travel, local events and scheduled maintenance will impact several key corridors throughout the day.

Major Traffic Alert: Seawalk Music Festival

The biggest impact on today’s travel will be in Jacksonville Beach for the Community First Seawalk Music Festival. Expected to draw large crowds today and tomorrow, traffic along A1A and the various access points to the oceanfront will be heavy. Drivers are encouraged to arrive early or utilize ride-sharing services. Parking near the Seawalk Pavilion will be extremely limited, and congestion is expected to peak during the afternoon and evening sets.

Highway and Interstate Updates

Several major projects under the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) continue to affect travel times on our primary arteries:

• I-95 Widening Project: Major roadwork is ongoing on I-95 in both directions from south of Emerson Street to Atlantic Boulevard. This widening project frequently results in shifted lanes and reduced speed limits.
• Buckman Bridge (I-295): Bridge maintenance operations are scheduled on the West Beltway at the Buckman Bridge. Motorists should be cautious of workers and potential lane closures throughout the weekend.
• I-95 at I-295 (North End): Long-term construction continues at the North End interchange. Expect minor delays when transitioning between the two highways.
• I-95 at King Parkway (US 1): Major construction remains active at this junction, with significant equipment present on the shoulders.

Local Roadworks and Detours

Within the city limits, several surface streets are undergoing improvements that may require local detours:

• Emerson Street (SR-126): Long-term construction is reported between Phillips Highway and Spring Park Road.
• Cassat Avenue/Edgewood Avenue (SR-111): Work continues from Beaver Street to North Old Kings Road.
• Main Street (US-17): Road construction is active between Baisden Road and the Nassau River Bridge.
• 103rd Street (SR-134): Maintenance is underway between Samaritan Way and Shindler Drive.

JTA Public Transport Alerts

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) has several active detours for bus riders today:

• Route 8: Continues to detour due to the road closure on the Art Museum Drive Bridge. This is expected to remain in effect through the end of the month.
• Route 12: A detour is in place near Myrtle Avenue and Kings Road due to JEA construction that began earlier this week.
• Route 22: Travelers should note ongoing route changes near 13th Street and Fairfax Street.

Transit users are encouraged to check the My JTA app for real-time arrivals as these detours may add extra time to your Saturday commute.