ORANGE PARK — Construction on the Blanding Boulevard and Wells Road intersection will begin Monday, Aug. 4.

The approximately $8 million project, estimated to be completed by Fall 2026, will bring access management improvements from south of Wells Road to the Ortega River.

According to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), drivers will see the reconfiguring of the intersection to enhance safety and the flow of traffic. The intersection is experiencing high levels of congestion during peak hours. The project will include milling and resurfacing, shoulder treatment, drainage improvements, base work, curb and gutters, traffic signals, highway signing, bridges, lighting, sidewalks, a bicycle path and other incidental construction.

Blanding Boulevard, or State Road 21, is a major north-south road in Clay, connecting residential homes and businesses to I-295, while Wells Road is an east-west connector for residential and commercial properties between Blanding and U.S. 17.

FDOT said the project will close median openings in front of the properties to the west of Blanding, south of the intersection. Median openings serve as a way for vehicles to make left turns, U-turns or cross the road, according to Law Insider.

FDOT will be constructing a traffic signal on Blanding, slightly north of Wells Road. Northbound drivers who want to access these properties will need to make a U-turn at the signal, then proceed to turn right into the properties.

Those who are traveling southbound on Blanding and looking to go east on Wells Road will need to enter into the channelized intersection and continue through after exiting the displaced left turn lane.

Although westbound Wells Road drivers going north on Blanding will experience little change, FDOT said those going south will have two options.

Drivers to the west of the displaced left turn lane can get to southbound Blanding by making a U-turn at the traffic signal. Drivers to the east of the left turn lane will need to use the traffic signal at the intersection and continue south.

Those continuing west on Wells Road will need to turn north onto Blanding and make a U-turn at the traffic signal, then proceed to make a right-hand turn onto westbound Wells Road.

Eastbound Wells Road drivers continuing east, north on Blanding or south on Blanding will experience little change.

FDOT said that traffic will be maintained during construction, and no single lane closures on Blanding and Wells Road will be allowed from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. No double lane closures will be allowed from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information visit NFLroads.com or contact FDOT Public Information Officer Meg Ross at meg.ross@dot.state.fl.us or 904-360-5437.