The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) hosted a construction site visit for a group of international engineers on November 6 at the Interstate 4 (I-4) and Daryl Carter Parkway interchange project in Orange County. The event gave the visiting engineers from the International Road Federation (IRF) a look into the progress of the construction of new ramps and a diverging diamond interchange (DDI) that are ongoing in that area.

FDOT’s visiting engineers hailed from Ghana, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Through this opportunity, the visitors gained first-hand knowledge from the engineers who worked on the ramps and the DDI project. The IRF visitors began the day at the construction site’s trailer office, where Project Engineer Curtis Brown met with the group and introduced them to the construction team. The visitors were able to view drone footage of the overall construction zone and get answers to their questions on the progress of the DDI project. The engineers were able to ask questions about the efficiency of the DDI in reducing traffic congestion and improving pedestrian safety.

The visitors were then taken up to the Daryl Carter Parkway overpass, where the westbound side is closed for work on the DDI. FDOT public information consultants were on site to give an overview of community outreach efforts and how to keep the public informed during key construction times. The construction team offered additional insight into the state of the project and how the DDI and new ramps will help ease congestion in a heavily traveled area. The group got an up-close view of how the three new ramps will impact travel on I-4, and the adjustments to the retention ponds within the project. FDOT is proud to partner with the IRF for opportunities to engage in knowledge sharing and insight with our professional colleagues from across the globe to promote the development of safer and smarter travel.