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State Road 21 (Florida)
Encyclopedia
State Road 21 runs mostly in a southwest to northeast direction from Melrose
to Jacksonville
. It is also known as Blanding Boulevard for much of its length.
SR 21 is one of four routes, along with Roosevelt Boulevard, Branan Field/Chaffee Road (SR 23
), and the First Coast Outer Beltway
that connect Jacksonville with its surrounds west of the St.John's River. Congestion has become a problem over the years as local government works to develop infrastructure for the growing populations of Orange Park, Middleburg and GreenCove Springs with the northern connectivity sought and thought to be achieved by drastic road widening despite the decimation of Lake Shore's prewar scale. Residents of both Clay and St.John's counties' communities rely on Duval's economy (Jacksonville) for employment. As a result, traffic is heavy during morning and evening rush hour, especially near and on I-295. Such has spurred the creation of the Collins Road / 295 interchange.
South of Middleburg, SR 21 narrows to two lanes and passes through rural southwestern Clay County, skirting the eastern boundary of Camp Blanding National Guard Base. The road scales gentle hills and passes several lakes before it enters the community of Keystone Heights
. SR 21 then passes through extreme western Putnam County
, extreme eastern Bradford County
and the town of Melrose before reaching its southern terminus 7 miles (11.3 km) south of Melrose, at a junction with SR 20
.
Melrose, Florida
Melrose is an unincorporated community in Alachua, Bradford, Clay, and Putnam counties in the U.S. state of Florida. It lies approximately one hour's drive from Jacksonville and one half hour's drive from Gainesville.-History:...
to Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. It is also known as Blanding Boulevard for much of its length.
Route description
The Blanding Boulevard segment (Between Jacksonville and Middleburg) is named for the Army National Guard post in Clay County a.k.a. "Camp Blanding". From its northern terminus (originally south from St.John's Avenue) and current northern extension and partial northbound-only interchange over US17/RooseveltBlvd/Florida SR15 and two-way connection to Park Street into Avondale via flyover, and its US17 southbound exitlane (immediately west of the region's FSCJ Kent campus Plymouth Street entrance) onto Blanding and into Lake Shore, the boulevard is four to seven lanes wide south to Middleburg, and narrows to two lanes south of SR 16.SR 21 is one of four routes, along with Roosevelt Boulevard, Branan Field/Chaffee Road (SR 23
State Road 23 (Florida)
State Road 23, also known as the Branan Field-Chaffee Expressway, is a partially built western bypass of Jacksonville. Its south end is at SR 21 in Middleburg, and it is planned to continue south and east as a planned bridge over the St. Johns River . The north end will be U.S. Route 90/SR 10 but...
), and the First Coast Outer Beltway
First Coast Outer Beltway
The First Coast Outer Beltway is a planned $1.8 billion, , 4-lane limited access toll road in Duval, Clay and St. Johns counties in North East Florida. It comprises the Branan Field-Chaffee Expressway , the proposed St Johns River Corridor, and the SR 9B/I-795 Projects...
that connect Jacksonville with its surrounds west of the St.John's River. Congestion has become a problem over the years as local government works to develop infrastructure for the growing populations of Orange Park, Middleburg and GreenCove Springs with the northern connectivity sought and thought to be achieved by drastic road widening despite the decimation of Lake Shore's prewar scale. Residents of both Clay and St.John's counties' communities rely on Duval's economy (Jacksonville) for employment. As a result, traffic is heavy during morning and evening rush hour, especially near and on I-295. Such has spurred the creation of the Collins Road / 295 interchange.
South of Middleburg, SR 21 narrows to two lanes and passes through rural southwestern Clay County, skirting the eastern boundary of Camp Blanding National Guard Base. The road scales gentle hills and passes several lakes before it enters the community of Keystone Heights
Keystone Heights, Florida
Keystone Heights is a town located in both Bradford County and Clay County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,349 at the 2000 census, all of it in the Clay County section, although over 40 percent of the city's area lies in Bradford County. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S...
. SR 21 then passes through extreme western Putnam County
Putnam County, Florida
Putnam County is a county located in the state of Florida. The entire county makes up the Palatka Micropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 70,423. The U.S. Census Bureau 2009 estimate for the county was 72,893 . Its county seat is Palatka, Florida. The county is centrally...
, extreme eastern Bradford County
Bradford County, Florida
Bradford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 26,088. The 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate for the county was 28,118 . Its county seat is Starke, Florida. Bradford County is the home of the Florida State Prison as well as several other state...
and the town of Melrose before reaching its southern terminus 7 miles (11.3 km) south of Melrose, at a junction with SR 20
Florida State Road 20
State Road 20 is an east–west route across northern Florida and the Florida Panhandle.-Route description:The western terminus of State Road 20 is at State Road 85 in Niceville. The route proceeds east through Blountstown, crossing the Apalachicola River on the Trammell Bridge, then proceeding...
.
Major intersections
SR 20Florida State Road 20State Road 20 is an east–west route across northern Florida and the Florida Panhandle.-Route description:The western terminus of State Road 20 is at State Road 85 in Niceville. The route proceeds east through Blountstown, crossing the Apalachicola River on the Trammell Bridge, then proceeding...
/Putnam CR 20A in McMeekin
Putnam CR 21 in McMeekin
SR 26 in MelroseMelrose, FloridaMelrose is an unincorporated community in Alachua, Bradford, Clay, and Putnam counties in the U.S. state of Florida. It lies approximately one hour's drive from Jacksonville and one half hour's drive from Gainesville.-History:...
SR 100 in Keystone HeightsKeystone Heights, FloridaKeystone Heights is a town located in both Bradford County and Clay County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,349 at the 2000 census, all of it in the Clay County section, although over 40 percent of the city's area lies in Bradford County. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S...
SR 16 in Penney FarmsPenney Farms, FloridaPenney Farms is a town in Clay County, Florida, United States. The population was 580 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 617.- History :...- Clay CR 215 in MiddleburgMiddleburg, FloridaMiddleburg is a census-designated place in Clay County, Florida, United States, located 29 miles southwest of downtown Jacksonville, Florida, 16 miles northwest of Green Cove Springs, Florida, and home to Middleburg High School...
SR 23 in MiddleburgMiddleburg, FloridaMiddleburg is a census-designated place in Clay County, Florida, United States, located 29 miles southwest of downtown Jacksonville, Florida, 16 miles northwest of Green Cove Springs, Florida, and home to Middleburg High School...
SR 224 in Orange ParkOrange Park, FloridaOrange Park is a town in Clay County, Florida, USA, and a suburb of Jacksonville. The population was 8,412 at the 2010 census. The name "Orange Park" is additionally applied to a wider area of northern Clay County outside the town limits, covering such communities as Fleming Island, Lakeside, and...
I-295/SR 9A in Orange ParkOrange Park, FloridaOrange Park is a town in Clay County, Florida, USA, and a suburb of Jacksonville. The population was 8,412 at the 2010 census. The name "Orange Park" is additionally applied to a wider area of northern Clay County outside the town limits, covering such communities as Fleming Island, Lakeside, and...
SR 134Florida State Road 134State Road 134 is an 11 mile long, east-west signed Florida State Road located entirely in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, United States, extending from State Road 228 to U.S. Route 17. It is known as 103rd Street west of Wesconnett Blvd. and Timuquana Road east of the intersection...
in JacksonvilleJacksonville, FloridaJacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
SR 208Florida State Road 208State Road 208, locally known as Wilson Boulevard, is a state road located in Jacksonville, Florida. It begans at Fouraker Road in Jacksonville, heading east, intersecting I-295 and SR 103 before ending at SR 21 in Jacksonville....
in JacksonvilleJacksonville, FloridaJacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
SR 128 in JacksonvilleJacksonville, FloridaJacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
US 17/SR 15 & Park Street JacksonvilleJacksonville, FloridaJacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...