New Diverging Diamond Interchange in Viera Offers Glimpse at Future I-4

Central Florida’s first diverging diamond interchange (DDI) just opened in Viera on Interstate 95 (I-95) in early July.

The innovative design offers a nearby, real-life example of what is planned for several interchanges along the I-4 Beyond the Ultimate project.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) built the new interchange in Brevard County to alleviate traffic congestion around I-95 at Viera Boulevard and improve safety for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.

FDOT’s District Five, which oversees both the Brevard project and the I-4 Ultimate and I-4 Beyond the Ultimate projects, selected the diverging diamond design, a configuration that has proven successful elsewhere in Florida and around the nation.

Several DDIs are planned for interchanges in the I-4 Beyond project. The first ones will be built at the Sand Lake Road (State Road 482) and Daryl Carter Parkway interchanges to address congestion in those very busy and growing areas.

The DDI lessens the likelihood of crashes by temporarily switching drivers to the opposite side of the road. That way, vehicles can make left turns onto interstates without worrying about crossing in front of oncoming traffic.

Though differing from the typical roadway arrangement, the driving paths of a DDI are easy to follow. To drive through a DDI on a local road, proceed through the traffic light and continue in your lane, as it shifts to the left side of the road. As you drive on the left side, simply turn left onto the entrance ramp and merge onto the highway. You do not have to cross in front of oncoming traffic. Those who don’t need to turn left onto the interstate will be guided back to their usual side of the roadway.

This improvement increases the efficiency of the interchange, allowing more vehicles to enter and exit the interstate. It also reduces the number of traffic signal phases from four to two, so lights stay green longer, and more vehicles can travel through the interchange. Additionally, the DDI increases safety because it reduces the number of vehicle-to-vehicle conflict points, which decreases the likelihood and severity of crashes.

More information about the new DDI in Viera is available to view here.

Beyond the Ultimate Construction Begins on EB I-4 in Seminole County

Construction on I-4 Beyond the Ultimate is beginning. Crews will begin this month milling and resurfacing eastbound Interstate 4 (I-4) between Lake Mary Boulevard and County Road (C.R.) 46A and from State Road (S.R.) 46 to the Seminole-Volusia county line. The work will extend the life of the pavement.

This construction project also includes a realignment of the eastbound I-4 exit ramp to Lake Mary Boulevard. The concrete island separating the two right turn lanes onto eastbound Lake Mary Boulevard will be eliminated. Both lanes will now place traffic onto the Lake Mary Boulevard through lanes, meaning traffic in the right lane will no longer feed into the right-turn-only lane leading to Lake Emma Road. Finally, motorists exiting eastbound I-4 will no longer be able to make a right turn on red at Lake Mary Boulevard.

Motorists should expect nightly lane closures and traffic pacing operations during construction and can sign up to receive advance construction alerts for work occurring on both directions of I-4 between the end of the I-4 Ultimate project and the Seminole-Volusia county line.

The I-4 Advanced Construction Alert System offers advance notifications about these nightly closures sent directly to your inbox or cellphone.

Sign up for advance construction alerts by entering your contact information on i4beyond.com/alerts. Motorists can customize their alerts to notify either weekly, daily or hourly. Users also can filter the alerts to show only the construction activity between the two I-4 interchanges on which they travel the most.

Prior to receiving text messages, users are required to opt-in by replying “YES” to the introductory message. Standard messaging and data rates may apply. Messaging frequency varies based on preferences.

I-4 Beyond the Ultimate Debuts 360-Degree Virtual Drives

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.

Now Ready for Download: the 2018 Year in Review of I-4 Ultimate and Beyond

For the first time since publication began in 2016, the official booklet that reviews progress on Interstate 4 (I-4) construction in Central Florida will include details on two very large projects – I-4 Ultimate and I-4 Beyond the Ultimate.

Appropriately titled, “Above & Beyond,” this year’s edition covers much territory, including major construction work organized by geographical location, milestones already accomplished, and ongoing efforts to keep the public informed of upcoming changes via instant electronic updates and multiple informational open houses.

With two projects to document, it’s no surprise that this most recent edition is the largest yet at 32 pages. It also features many striking photos of construction as it progresses and the people who do the work that improves safety and mobility on I‑4.

Year in Review booklets are part of an overall effort by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to keep the public informed and to thank drivers for their continued patience and commitment to safety while work continues on the new corridor that will support the economy, lifestyle, and increased connectivity of the Central Florida region.

This is the fourth edition of the annual Year in Review. To download current and past copies, please visit https://i4ultimate.com/news-media-resources/years-in-review.