County Celebrates Start of State Road 16 and International Golf Parkway Improvements Project with Groundbreaking Ceremony

• 29 August 2025
• Category: SJC News Infrastructure
• Tags: 2025

Project includes road widening, drainage upgrades, sidewalks, and traffic signal

On Aug. 25, St. Johns County officials and staff held a groundbreaking ceremony at the intersection of State Road 16 (SR 16) and International Golf Parkway (IGP) to celebrate the start of improvements to the intersection. The Office of Public Affairs produced a video to commemorate the event.

The $25 million SR 16-IGP Improvements Project, led by St. Johns County Public Works, will expand SR 16 from two lanes to four, add sidewalks between IGP and County Road 2209, install a new drainage system, and include a traffic signal.

“This project is another step forward in building the County’s transportation infrastructure,” said Greg Caldwell, Director of St. Johns County Public Works.

District 2 Commissioner Chairman Sarah Arnold, District 1 Commissioner Christian Whitehurst, District 3 Commissioner Clay Murphy, District 5 Commissioner Ann Taylor, Director of St. Johns County Public Works Greg Caldwell, and Superintendent of the St. Johns County School District Dr. Brennan Asplen, broke ground on the project, along with various St. Johns County administrators and staff.

“One of our six priorities of the Strategic Plan is infrastructure, so today we break ground on another project that will improve the lives of our residents,” Commissioner Arnold said.

“This will be a tremendous asset to our community once complete,” Dr. Asplen said. He noted that five schools, including Tocoi High School, Mill Creek Academy, Pacetti Bay Middle School, Picolata Elementary School, and Wards Creek Elementary School, are located within just a few miles of the intersection. This highlights the project’s importance for student safety and traffic flow.

The project is anticipated to be completed in 18 months. Once upgrades are in place, drivers should see less stop-and-go movement and a more efficient flow of traffic through the intersection. As crews get to work, the public is urged to stay patient, plan ahead, and give themselves extra time on the road.

“This project is going to be a major improvement for the overall area,” Caldwell said. “While construction often causes delays, this project is designed to ease congestion even before completion. I am very proud of our Public Works team for finding innovative solutions.”

Some of the construction delays may be eased by progress on a nearby Capital Improvement Project. A 3.9-mile portion of CR 2209 (Silverleaf Parkway) connecting to IGP is expected to open at the end of October, with the extension to SR 16 anticipated within the next six to eight months. This project supports long-term mobility needs and upholds the County’s longstanding obligations to FDOT to alleviate traffic challenges on I-95.

For more information about St. Johns County Capital Improvement Projects, visit the Featured Projects web page.