Traffic Alert: Amelia Island Parkway/Buccaneer Trail Road closure until May 4

A full closure of the intersection at Amelia Island Parkway and Buccaneer Trail begins Wednesday rerouting onto Simmons Road and making Fletcher Avenue the island's primary north/south roadway for half of Amelia Island.

Nassau County officials said the shutdown — scheduled to last through May 4 — is necessary to relocate major water, gas and electrical lines beneath the roadway as part of ongoing roundabout construction. While framed as a routine infrastructure phase, the closure effectively removes one of the island’s key north-south corridors and redirects traffic onto smaller, less-capable roads.

Here's the county's announcement of the closing:

As part of the ongoing roundabout construction at Amelia Island Parkway and Buccaneer Trail, major water main, gas main, and electrical distribution lines are being relocated from under the center of the roadway. This critical utility work requires a full intersection closure to ensure safety and efficiency. The intersection will begin to close to traffic in all directions starting Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 7 a.m. The closure is expected to last approximately five weeks, through Monday, May 4, 2026 (weather and unforeseen circumstances permitting). A detour will be in place to keep everyone moving safely.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Detour Route and Added Distance: Drivers should follow 14th Street to Simmons Road to Fletcher Avenue/A1A. This detour adds about 1.5 miles compared to the normal route along the parkway – still a quick reroute, but plan accordingly!

• Added Travel Time in Normal/Light Traffic: Expect an extra 3-5 minutes under typical conditions, like midday or evenings with low volume.

• Added Travel Time in Peak Hours: During busy times such as morning rush (7-9 a.m.) or late afternoon (4-6 p.m.), allow for 10-15 minutes additional due to higher traffic on detour roads.

For another viable option, consider using 8th Street to Sadler Road to Fletcher Avenue. While this is not the official detour route, this alternate path can help distribute traffic and may suit some drivers better depending on your starting point.

The closure and detour route will be mapped in ArcGIS which feeds into Google Maps, Apple Maps and Waze among other mobile applications to better assist motorists with navigating to their destinations.

Upon completion of Phase 2 activities, Buccaneer Trail will reopen to traffic in both directions, while the Parkway will remain closed south of the intersection until project completion this summer.