A planned construction project on a brick roadway in downtown Jacksonville is moving forward, but city leaders say they are working toward a compromise after concerns from local business owners.
The project, which dates back to 2021, involves removing the brick roadway along Court Street and restoring two-way traffic to improve access through downtown.
City officials said construction is expected to begin within the next 15 to 20 days, allowing contractors time to finalize plans and giving leaders an opportunity to explore alternative options.
The brick road, which has been in place for about 25 years, spans roughly three blocks. The $200,000 project includes widening and repaving the roadway and removing medians as part of a broader downtown revitalization effort.
City Manager Joshua Ray said the goal is to improve accessibility to nearby destinations such as Riverwalk Park, Sturgeon City and the marina project.
“Some challenge we have is people getting down to Sturgeon City and getting back up,” Ray said. “We have Riverwalk Park, we have our marina project — these are all assets inside our community, so we want to make it accessible to everyone.”
Ray added the project does not include upgrades to water or sewer lines, underground electrical work or changes to property lines.
However, some business owners say they were not given enough notice before the project was set to begin.
Kevin Ryan, owner of Clove Hitch Beer Company, said he first learned about the plans through a social media post just days before construction was expected to start.
“We are hoping next time they give us ample time to give us a heads up,” Ryan said. “That may require us to shut down our business, take care of our foot traffic.”
Concerns about the potential impact on businesses led to a petition that has gathered more than 1,500 signatures. While some owners support improvements to traffic flow, they say they want to preserve the character of the area.
“Our street seating is very popular. People love the look of the brick,” Ryan said. “Opening up a two-way road, we aren’t against at all — we just don’t want this to look like a main road coming through here.”
City leaders said they are working to minimize disruptions by phasing construction, sharing timelines and adjusting schedules when possible.
City leaders are also looking into alternative methods like potentially stamped asphalt.
