Construction crews continue to make progress on the Interstate 4 (I-4) and Daryl Carter Parkway interchange project as part of I-4 Beyond the Ultimate improvements in Central Florida. Teams of hard-working, focused individuals make up the crews who take on the challenges of these projects.

Samantha Stanley, a grade crew operator on the Daryl Carter Parkway project, uses her skills to meaningfully contribute to the project. The grade crew moves sand or dirt to shape the land within the construction site that the road is built on. The grade, which refers to the reshaped earth, is then topped off with lime rock and asphalt. Once the asphalt is paved and striped, it is ready for vehicular traffic.

“I work on the roadway crew, so without me finishing my job, there’s no road to be driven on,” she said. “Our process is basically the last step.”

Samantha’s interest in construction developed from watching her father work in the field, and by the time she finished high school, she knew where she wanted to be.

“My dad has done construction my whole life, so it started with him when I came out of high school,” Samantha said. “I knew I could progress and be up higher on the chain.”

She started as a laborer and quickly mastered the skills needed to advance in her career. She has worked in construction for five years, pausing her career for a time to raise her son. In that time, she progressed to a grade crew operator — a position that requires steady and precise planning.

Using GPS equipment, Samantha helps collect data to prepare the grade for lime rock and asphalt. This crucial step ensures the construction site is set properly for drainage and roadway foundation. Samantha’s proficiency in this area comes from her eagerness to learn each time she comes to work. She said one of the things she likes about her job is that each day is different.

“Now that I’m able to operate equipment and know the process, I feel like every day you learn something new,” Samantha said.

On such a large project, Samantha said it’s important to speak up when something seems off. As a roller, she gets a strong sense of what direction the grade is going and knows where lime rock can be placed. The team, she said, will improve by communicating issues so they don’t have to repeat any steps.

“The best advice I can give is you don’t butt heads,” she said. “If you see something, you say something. If you think something is wrong, don’t be afraid to say anything.”

As the project continues, Samantha said she’d like to move up to a load operator role, taking on more responsibilities along the way. She’s not afraid of challenges and knows what it takes to overcome them.

For more information on the I-4 and Daryl Carter Parkway project, visit the Daryl Carter Parkway project page.