Carrying I-295 over the St. John's River in Jacksonville, the Buckman Bridge was named for one of the people who was critical in helping to establish the Florida state road system. The bridge opened in 1970 and has 8 lanes of traffic. More than three miles long and with 65 feet of clearance, it's flipping awesome for this beltway around Jacksonville and avoiding the downtown traffic on I-95. Very little traffic this afternoon and it was an easy (if sunny) drive. There is no toll to cross this bridge. [Review 14773 overall, 275 of 2021, number 1271 in Florida.] read more

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There is now a toll if you want to use express during the week. Weekends it's usually free. You need to get a reloadable transponder. Comes in handy when there are accidents! Unless it's in the express lane. So worth it!!!! read more

I have traveled this bridge quite often when I am heading from Jacksonville to Middleburg. It offers a nice view of the St John's River and seems to be relatively well kept. read more

Buckman Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

This is one of my favorite bridges in the area. Any time of the day there are beautiful views all around you. You can see downtown Jacksonville, the Naval Air Station and even the power plant on a clear day. Not to mention the beauty of the water, the docks, the boats, etc. The bridge itself is pretty cool looking! The reason for my 4 rating is that I wish there was an area on either end where you could park and walk the bridge. I do realize it is older, but I sincerely wish they would think about this...not just for walking, but jogging and bike riders too. Make it available for all to enjoy and use. I would love to take some pictures or just enjoy the view in the middle while not just driving over it, but walking it and appreciating it. It truly is a beautiful area that gets ignored or passed up by just driving on the bridge. I wish we could appreciate it more while not just driving over it. So stop honking while we are driving slow to appreciate the beauty of it sometimes!...Hahaha! In the meantime, I have heard the bridge gets a bad rap for the low sides, but that is what I love about it. Can you imagine if you couldn't enjoy the view driving over it with higher sides? Note: It is hard to check in on yelp, it almost needs two check in points. You can be on the bridge and it will say you are more than a mile away depending on what direction you are going. read more

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I can't even begin to imagine trying to get from Orange Park to Mandarin prior to this bridge opening in 1970. Holy cow... people really had one helluva drive back then! The bridge is a long one at just a little over 3 miles. It looks like it's long and flat, but it actually goes up pretty darn high. There are beautiful views on both sides of the St. John's River and if it's a clear day, you get a beautiful view of downtown Jacksonville at a certain point on the bridge. On very windy days, you can actually feel your car swaying, so make sure to keep both hands firmly on the wheel so you are in full control of your vehicle. Like someone else mentioned, during rush hour, traffic can be a real bear on this bridge, especially if you need to get off at either San Jose Blvd. in Mandarin or the first two exits in Orange Park which are 17/Roosevelt and Blanding Blvd. If you don't have to get off at any of those exits during rush hour, if you stay in the far left lane (no matter which direction you are heading), then you shouldn't have too much traffic to deal with. The far left lane tends to flow pretty smoothly even during rush hour. The problem is when you have to get off at one of the immediate exits. I always love going over this bridge because of the lovely views. Luckily, it's usually my husband who is driving, so I can take in the sights of the river and downtown without having to keep my eyes on the road. read more

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This is definitely a bridge with a purpose opened in 1970 it was never meant to be a thing of beauty, but for me it's a bridge unlike any other bridge so its uniqueness makes it beautiful in my eyes. Henry Holland Buckman, a prominent legislator and attorney who was instrumental in establishing the states road system would be proud that this bridge named in his honor is so beneficial and loved by the community by providing a convenient route for their daily commute. I also think he would love the fact that a bunch of Yelpers like us appreciate his contribution to society enough to review it so positively and document it in the journals of history. read more

Buckman Bridge - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

I have been going over the Buckman Bridge as long as I've lived in the Jacksonville area. When I used to work on the Southside, it was a necessary evil if you are coming from Fleming Island & Orange Park. Since then, it has been widened and improved to accommodate the ever growing population on the west side of town. The best part about the Buckman is the beautiful views of the St. Johns River when you're crossing. And if you're new to the area and cant' remember all the bridges in town, just remember that while crossing this one--it kind of feels like you're being gently bucked. Silly, I know...but true. :) read more

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This bridge gets a bad reputation in town for its traffic and low side walls. The bridge itself is not unsafe. It is the drivers that make this bridge sometimes scary. Drivers going 80 and not using their signals is a huge problem. The other issues arise on rainy days when people speed or when people tailgate in the mornings and would rather play on the phone than pay attention. I actually really like the bridge and love seeing the water each morning and evening. I love to watch the sun rise as I am crossing over the bridge. I like the lower side walls so you can see the ripples in the water. For me it can be very relaxing. read more

Buckman Bridge - Gorgeous view this morning - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

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It's been a slow quarter and I haven't been out much so here I go reviewing bridges and landmarks. This bridge if I am not mistaken is one of the safest bridges in the state of Florida. What makes it dangerous are the idiots that don't know how to drive or pay attention. The city has made multiple changes to this bridge since they converted it from a two to a four lane because of population but because of so many accidents they are hoping these changes help. I've ridden my motorcycle on this bridge many times and I can't tell you how many people are either on their phones, eating, doing makeup, writing a paper or something ridiculous instead of paying attention to the road. It's hard NOT to speed on this bridge but I hear they are bringing down the speed limit, not sure how true that is. It would be great if they made the barriers MUCH higher, yes, you lose the view of Downtown Jax but I can't tell you how many times there is a major accident on one side and the other side is backed up because of bottleneckers. Fun Fact: Most Vietnamese people I know calls this the 3-mile bridge instead of the Buckman. I call it The Buck. read more

I really abhor this bridge the most. It is a very dangerous bridge and so many aggressive & speeding drivers! Something needs to be done to slow the cars down and make the bridge safer. Come on now! Let's get with the program. This is 2017, not 1960. I know for a fact that at least one man was pushed off the bridge in an accident, he did not survive. That right there should of been a "wake-up call". Take those blinders off! read more

I don't condone taking pictures while driving but, the Florida Sunsets are AMAZING from both sides of the bridge. Ive taken too many photos to count while driving of-course on the Buckman of all he different sunsets and weather phenomenons. I've also kayaked from the NAS Marina to the bridge and back. It's a very good workout and was about an hour long paddle-out and back. read more

Buckman Bridge - Cool clouds with sun peeking through. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

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It crosses the water and gets me safely from point a to b. The pavement gives it a bounce effect, which can be really fun if you pick the right music. read more

I actually like this bridge a lot. I work in Mandarin and have to make my way back to Orange Park after work when the sun is slowly setting (and boy is it beautiful!). Really, the only thing I don't like is how my car gets beat up by the wind. My little car gets pushed side to side. It's a pretty simple bridge, but I wish they added more too it to make it more visually appealing. I guess it does it's job though, right? read more

Named after Henry Holland Buckman, a legislator who was instrumental in establishing the Florida state road system, this bridge spans the St John's when going from Orange Park or the Westside over to Mandarin or vice versa. I drive a Mini Cooper and I particularly love driving over this bridge with my windows down and my sun roof open. The breeze can be felt, even on one of those hot and humid days. For those who aren't a fan of heights, this isn't too high off the ground as compared to the likes of the Mathews or Dames Point. Closings of the Buckman are rare, but it will close if there are sustained winds of 40 mph or more. Traffic is also a big factor here, especially during rush hour. On the west side of the bridge, you have the Orange Park exits as well as NAS Jacksonville and on the east side, you have Mandarin. I'd keep some audio books or podcasts if you know you'll be stuck in the car for awhile. I've kayaked this part of the St. John's from the boat launch at NAS Jax down to the Buckman and back. It's a great workout and little do most people realize, this whole area is chock full of manatees and other wildlife. read more

Growing up landlocked, it was always such a treat to cross this bridge as we were heading south. It was usually early morning, after driving all night from the midwest, and when we hit this bridge, it finally hit us that we were in Florida. The river views are gorgeous, (depending on the weather) and since we were headed to Ormond Beach to see family, we knew it was only about an hour until our final destination. We'd roll the windows down, take in the sunrise, and sigh a breath of relief. As a Westside Jacksonville resident, the Buckman offers me another way to get to where I'm going. I do avoid it during am/pm rush hours, as yes, I've also been stuck on the bridge for an hour while trying to get to work. Please please PLEASE be careful on this bridge. After the fatal crashes last week, make sure you obey that double white line (doesn't seem like most people do) and watch your speed and the traffic in front of you. It will get backed up for the Roosevelt/Park street exit, so just keep some distance and be safe. read more

For this water baby, the expanse of this bridge is perfect because I can take it in for a hot minute when I need to make my way over to the Westside. I can understand the complaints it gets during rush hours because once you're on the bridge, you're on it for a while. I don't usually have to cross during these times to I've never experience the brunt of it. The design has always interested me because I can only picture what it would like if they had built it more like a 'traditional' bridge. read more

Aside from the various traffic nightmares - the bridge itself affords a beautiful view of the St. John's River and riverfront properties. Please drive cautiously!! Enjoy ...? read more

3 stars. If I were just rating the bridge, I would give it 5. Being someone from Mandarin, who has sat in the Buckman Mandarin to Orange Park traffic for many hours of my life I have to drop it to 3 though. I'm not sure why the traffic is frequently so crazy on this bridge but it is annoying at best. read more

This is my least favorite bridge in Jacksonville , but i have to take it to go to work .There is an accident at least 2-3 days a week, and my 15 minute drive to work becomes 50 minutes. I gave it one more star because at least the view from the top of the bridge looks nice when you're stuck in traffic. read more

The Buckman is a bridge I wouldn't mind getting stuck on during a sunset/rise. Every time my wife and I drive across it we are amazed by its views as if it was the first time. The traffic isn't so bad after 6pm but it all depends on your tolerance level idiot drivers. read more

Bridge is horrible. Always traffic. Something needs to be down fast. Hope the sun pass will help

I have always been a fan of bridges. Especially ones that are long and cross over big bodies of water. I was told about this bridge from a fellow helper who holds the crown for this place. I was actually excited to get the check in so I could write a review for it. I was thoroughly happy with the length and size of the bridge because it had that cruise a long factor that most bridges I have been on. Cruising ( Smokey Robinson reference) along was very comforting and relaxing for me. I would like to definitely enhance my experience with this bridge by actually getting out and taking some pictures. It could be dangerous with the cars coming down the road, but hey that adds to the whole excitement factor. Since I love the some of the dangers of doing that, it is up my alley. Looking forward to getting on the bridge again. read more

I drive over this bridge A LOT. The view is decent, and the bridge is so low it's like skimming across the river. The traffic can really suck on this bridge sometimes. As far as bridges go, its a mediocre drive compared to many others I've crossed. If you must cross this bridge, so be it, but it's definitely no Golden Gate. read more

This is the bridge you drive on when you hate your life and want to be miserable between 6 AM and 10 AM going east or 5PM to 9 PM going West. Avoid this by taking a boat or just quitting whatever job you have that makes you take this road. Historical Landmark? No. read more

We really need another bridge from St Johns to Clay County, although I do love the people drive down of the sands bridge, something in between would be nice read more

I don't like this bridge. I feel like I am taking a chance with my life on this one. Since texting has become illegal I won't be checking in on this one anymore as it is too dangerous as it is even while paying attention. read more

BE CAREFUL! This bridge is known for people speeding like crazy or driving well below speed limit and blocking traffic. The bridge is used by everyone to include contractors. It's not unusual to see ladders, wheel barrows and other work related materials in the traffic lanes. This is due to improper lashing and vehicle speed. When they lose these items, they NEVER stop to police it up. The traffic is very bad during rush hour as it's a corridor to I-95 and all major junctions. In the A.M. Southbound is bad; in the P.M. Northbound is congested. Always exercise due caution on the bridge. One last thing, FHP stakes out the bridge on each end. If you're speeding and they're bored; they'll follow you across the bridge and ticket you. read more

I couldn't even begin to imagine how many times I've driven over the Buckman. Currently, it's at least 2 times a day, 5 days a week. It's a nice bridge and thank God for it. As other people have mentioned, when it gets windy, be extra careful as you will feel every gust. read more

Deathtrap! Grit your teeth and bear it if you have to cross this treacherous road. So many horrible accidents. It's too bad it's only one of 2 places to cross the river. read more

I always enjoy crossing over the Buckman. The views are so expansive that your can quite often view a number of micro-climate events going on in the area. Easy connections from Park Ave to San Jose and vice-versa as you have your own lane all the way, although rush hour can be slow.A fun ride. read more

This bridge is too dangerous. Our law office sees too many wrecks and too many deaths in Jacksonville and the Buckman is a particular problem. read more

Get in the lane you plan to exit from 10 miles before the exit and understand that, that is your portion. Heading to 95N? You're in the right lane before getting on the buckam from orange park and you stay there, leaving one car length in front of you to allow zipper mergers from San Jose and old St Augustine. Always use your blinker 30 yards before you intend to change lanes or turning off like you learned from your driver's license test. And be sure to maintain speed(65mph) keep checking your speedometer and there will be no congestion or wrecks. Don't let the city make money with that fast toll lane! Prove them wrong and let show them we can drive and stick it to "the man" like that there Bitcoin thing. Thus sayeth the Lord. read more

yo this bridge is the shit. It p isnt tall enough to kill yourself on though so keep that in mind if thats what you're reading reviews for bridges for. read more