As work continues on the new diverging diamond interchange (DDI) at Interstate 4 (I-4) and County Road (C.R.) 532 near ChampionsGate, drivers in the area can expect a new traffic pattern as soon as Sunday, July 10. The DDI is starting to take shape, and aerial photos show how the landscape has changed at the interchange. Let’s examine some recent aerial shots showing how the work has progressed in locations throughout the project area.

“The area in front of Ale House (above photo, bottom left) had drainage structures installed along the curb line, and new curb and sidewalk poured,” said Mahmoud Heda, an assistant project administrator on the ChampionsGate DDI construction team. “There was some (road) widening in front of the curb and along Goodman Road, so subgrade and base was put in, as well as new asphalt. The right side in front of the Wendy’s (bottom right) is being worked on with drainage structures and pipe going in. There is still widening to be done in that area.”

 

The photo above shows another view of the west side of the interchange, but much closer to I-4. In this overhead shot, it’s easy to see how traffic on the exit ramp from westbound I-4 will transition onto eastbound and westbound C.R. 532, as well as how the ramp on the right will move traffic from eastbound and westbound C.R. 532 onto westbound I-4 toward Tampa.

“The westbound exit from I-4 has been widened with all new asphalt, so subgrade, base, and structural asphalt was placed on this ramp, as well as on the (new) left turn,” Heda said. “The ditch along the new ramp to westbound C.R. 532 has been graded and is ready for sod in this photo. The new section of the westbound I-4 entrance ramp, which will accommodate eastbound traffic on C.R. 532 in the new configuration — where the trucks are parked in the highlighted area of the photo — is all new, with subgrade, base, and structural asphalt going in, as well as new curb.”

 

The above aerial shows more widening taking place along the entrance ramp to westbound I-4 and where new sod will go around the retention pond.

 

The area on the right in this photo, which is the southeast corner of the interchange, will be home to a new retention pond.

“The pond is complete and is ready for landscaping,” Heda said. “There was widening and some new base and structural asphalt on the exit ramp from eastbound I-4, where the curves are beginning to appear, as well as the new ramp to eastbound C.R. 532.”

 

Moving further east along C.R. 532, this photo shows the widened and completely rebuilt entrance ramp to eastbound I-4, which is in its final configuration, on the left.

“Lots of new curb and sidewalk went in along this area as well,” Heda said.

 

For this image, the camera is looking westbound along C.R. 532 toward I-4. Note how the roadway has been reshaped to accommodate traffic coming eastbound through the DDI under I-4.

“You can see the new asphalt versus the old asphalt well here,” Heda said. “The median has new curb poured along one side to show the final shape. The old asphalt will be milled and resurfaced soon.”

 

This shot from high over the interchange shows both ponds west of I-4 are complete.

“There is some more widening still to be completed and then it’s just a matter of building the islands and putting in new asphalt (in the ramp areas),” Heda said.

For more information on the DDI project at ChampionsGate visit I4beyond.com.