The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) hosted an informational open house regarding project plans on the Interstate 4 (I-4) interchange projects at Sand Lake Road (State Road (S.R.) 482) and Daryl Carter Parkway earlier this month. A virtual meeting was held on March 6 and an in-person meeting took place March 7 at the Rosen Event Center in Orlando. The purpose of the meeting was to inform the public about construction on both projects, particularly a new traffic pattern at Sand Lake Road.

Diverging diamond interchanges (DDIs) are coming to both interchanges, and Sand Lake Road was converted into an initial construction-phase DDI overnight on March 8 and 9 ( Click here to see a time lapse video of the conversion). The changeover is necessary to allow work crews space to complete overhead work on the overpass, reconstruct I-4’s general use lanes, and extend I-4 Express.

Project engineers from the Sand Lake Road and Daryl Carter Parkway interchange improvement projects were on hand to explain to attendees the current status and coming changes at both interchanges. More than 100 attendees took part in the virtual and in-person meetings, which included a video presentation, project handouts, and large display boards illustrating the coming improvements. In addition, construction engineers from the nearby S.R. 535 improvements were on hand to answer questions about that project.

The purpose of these projects is to provide operational and safety improvements to the I-4 corridor in southern Orange County and to extend I-4 Express from the existing express lanes near Kirkman Road to west of S.R. 536. While the public should be aware that construction will be ongoing for two to three more years, both projects are expected to improve efficiency in Orlando’s popular tourism corridor.

The Sand Lake Road interchange will move into its final footprint in two to three years when a new loop ramp to Turkey Lake Road is completed. The new loop ramp will ultimately replace the current left turn across traffic from westbound Sand Lake Road onto southbound Turkey Lake Road. This new loop ramp will allow motorists to exit I-4 at Exit 74A either to Sand Lake Road or directly to Turkey Lake Road.

FDOT urges drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians to be patient during this phase of construction. Please keep in mind that this new traffic pattern will move traffic to the opposite side of the road at the first traffic light, eliminating left turns across traffic to access I-4, and will move traffic back onto the right side of the road at the second light. Be sure to obey pavement markings and signage and to avoid distracted driving throughout the work zone.