Although the new diverging diamond interchange between Interstate 4 (I-4) and Sand Lake Road (State Road 482) won’t be built for some time, motorists can preview the interchange via a new 360-degree virtual drive video.

Users watching the videos on either a tablet or smartphone can move their device around as the video plays to experience what they would see at the new interchange.  If watching on a desktop computer, users may use their cursor to click and drag within the video in the direction they would like to view. The video also is compatible with most virtual reality headsets.

The videos were debuted at an informational open house in June for the improvements at the Daryl Carter Parkway and Sand Lake Road interchanges with I-4. Both interchanges will be diverging diamond interchanges (DDIs).

Dozens of participants took turns sitting in rows to simulate being in a vehicle and watched on a large monitor as one person holding a tablet played the video and “drove” through the newly designed Sand Lake Road interchange.

The 360-degree videos place users nearly 17 feet above the roadways at the virtual interchange to show things such as traffic movements, lane counts, signage, and lane markings.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is creating visual aids — such as these new videos — to help breathe life into the more technical design plans and to assist the public in understanding the improvements coming to their interchanges as part of I-4 Beyond the Ultimate.

The videos are available on the website and on the I-4 Ultimate and Beyond YouTube channel.

If you would like to learn more about the planned improvements at Daryl Carter Parkway and Sand Lake Road, please book a presentation by filling out a contact form.