Work Begins on I-4 and C.R. 532 Interchange in Osceola County

Rendering of what the interchange at I-4 and County Road 532 will look like upon completion. Construction on the interchange began July 2021.

Construction began this month on the reconfiguration of the Interstate 4 (I-4) and County Road (C.R.) 532 interchange to a diverging diamond interchange (DDI).

Unlike a conventional interchange, the lanes in a DDI cross over to the left side of the roadway. This increases safety by reducing the number of locations in which motorists could potentially cross paths. For example, the design allows drivers to make a left turn without crossing in front of oncoming traffic. The number of signal phases are also reduced in a DDI, allowing more motorists through the interchange.

As part of the reconfiguration, the interchange ramps will be expanded to increase capacity. The westbound I-4 exit ramp will be expanded to four lanes to provide two right-turn lanes and two left-turn lanes onto C.R. 532. The eastbound I-4 entrance ramp will be expanded to three lanes to accommodate dual left turns and a single right turn from C.R. 532. The eastbound I-4 exit ramp will be expanded to three lanes to provide dual left-turn lanes onto westbound C.R. 532 and a single right-turn lane onto eastbound C.R. 532. The westbound I-4 entrance ramp will have two lanes to accommodate right and left turns from C.R. 532.

Additionally, the intersection of ChampionsGate Boulevard and Goodman Road will be reconfigured. The new intersection will restrict movements from northbound Goodman Road to right turns only onto eastbound ChampionsGate Boulevard. This new travel pattern will increase efficiency on ChampionsGate Boulevard.

The project will also add bike lanes and sidewalks along C.R. 532 for improved bicycle and pedestrian connectivity and safety.

You can learn more about the safety and efficiency benefits of a DDI at I4Beyond.com/DDI. For more information on the planned improvements on I-4 near ChampionsGate, visit the project website at I4Beyond.com/ChampionsGate. To keep up with construction activity throughout the duration of the interchange improvement project, please visit cflroads.com or follow the project on Twitter.

How Interchanges Are Converted into Diverging Diamonds

While you may know that multiple diverging diamond interchanges (DDIs) are coming to Central Florida as part of the I-4 Beyond the Ultimate project, you may not know how the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) converts the area’s standard diamond interchanges into DDIs.

“Changing from a standard diamond interchange to a DDI is not overly complicated,” said Gilbert Chlewicki, P.E., the original designer of the DDI. “Generally, no more right of way is needed in a DDI…although there sometimes may be very slight additions to account for some curvature.”

The most important aspect of converting an interchange to a DDI is determining whether an existing bridge must be widened. If a DDI is over the interstate, it can generally be built without widening the bridge. If the DDI is under the highway, however, the bridge may have to be widened, especially if lanes are being added to accommodate traffic or if additional space is required for pedestrian and bicycle access.

After right of way is acquired and bridge work is complete, conversion to a DDI simply involves moving the curb to accommodate the new traffic pattern and then paving, installing signs and signals, and marking the pavement.

The time required to convert a standard interchange into a DDI depends on how much bridge work is needed and the amount and extent of closures that are able to occur during construction. For I-4 Beyond the Ultimate, interchanges at County Road 532, Daryl Carter Parkway, and Sand Lake Road (State Road 482) will remain open to maintain local traffic, although periodic lane and ramp closures will be necessary for crews to complete the work.

For more information on DDIs, please visit I4Beyond.com/DDI.

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Beyond the Ultimate Spotlight:
Allison Colburn, FDOT District Five
Public Information Specialist

When Allison Colburn decided to take a job in Central Florida two years ago, she wasn’t just changing locations and job titles. She was changing careers.

Colburn had been working in journalism as a business writer before she made the switch to communications. She expected to miss the variety and thrill of her old job, but she found exciting challenges waiting.

Working first with a marketing agency and then with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Colburn faced a vast array of ever-changing tasks. There were news releases to write and public events to help plan. Nearly every day, there were communications strategy decisions to make and discussions on how best to covey safety messages to the motoring public.

Before long, she realized she was still practicing many of the same skills she had enjoyed as a reporter. “There’s always something new to learn,” said Colburn. “I start one project and then there’s a phone call that means I need to respond to a different issue.”

Working with FDOT District Five also means learning the transportation details of nine counties, creating and reviewing social media posts, editing a variety of internal and external documents, and engaging with the public.

“All those interactions remind me of why our work matters so much,” she said. Answering questions from residents and businesspeople about the huge I-4 Ultimate and I-4 Beyond the Ultimate projects helps her see issues from many points of view. In turn, that refines her approach to public information.

“It’s about telling our story,” said Colburn, who grew up in Colorado and has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. “It’s about telling people why construction is happening, what it means to their commute today, and how it will improve their community in the future.”

Outside of work, Colburn is an avid bicyclist who likes to try out new trails. She also enjoys discovering new restaurants and local breweries.