I-heart-95?

For those of us who regularly bicycle between Riverside and downtown via the Riverwalk, the past several months have presented a slight, and constantly shifting challenge. The city has been landscaping the section of the Riverwalk extending from the southern edge of Fidelity's property underneath the I-95 overpass. I was annoyed when the tactics for protecting the ongoing work consisted of just closing off the paths. I could see from the multiple tire tracks around the barricades that I wasn't alone. This is a real transit route between two of the best parts of this crazy city! I thought to myself as I shoved the gigantic barrier barrels aside, resolutely.

To be honest, I was actually happy to see the evidence of this fact, which hard pavement can't show. As the path remained closed off, I could see the increasing impact of bicycle tires in the landscaping, creating new pathways and marking the presence of the two-wheeled contingent!

I started joining this trend when I realized that 1) my road bike really didn't like the bare sand and broken bricks where the sidewalk once was; 2) I could actually damage the work being done, which I didn't want; and 3) the barricades became much more assertive. Then, finally, some teenagers showed me that Fidelity had left their gate open, so we could use their side parking lot as a path.

Anyway, I wanted to post to the network to let you all know, if you haven't seen it yet, that not only has the path been open for a while now, but the entire landscaping under the arcade of the highway is pretty much complete! I saw it last night after dark, when the columns of the bridge are lit up. I returned this morning to take some photographs.

It just looks great. I'll even refrain from complaining at length about the use of cypress mulch...

If a city has to slap an interstate highway across the most viable neighborhoods it's got, it may as well take pride in the unique architecture such thing provides. The arcade is proud and welcoming. Good job, Jacksonville.

Enjoy!