FDOT Promotes National Work Zone Awareness Week

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is reminding motorists to help keep roads safe by following posted speed limits within all construction work zones.

Work zones present challenging situations for motorists driving through the complex array of signs, barrels, and lane changes. In Osceola County, multiple work zones are present at the interchanges of Interstate 4 (I-4) and State Road (S.R.) 429 and I-4 and County Road 532 at ChampionsGate.

Changes in roadway configurations, including nighttime lane closures, are much more manageable for motorists if they’re paying attention to the new patterns and maintaining a safe speed. While many motorists continue to make sure other drivers, workers, and pedestrians are safe, there’s still work to be done.

Remember the following tips when driving through work zones, not just during National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 11-15, but every day. Maintaining a safe speed can improve driving conditions for everyone.

Adjust Your Speed — Traveling 10 mph above the posted work zone speed limit shaves less than three minutes off a 20-mile trip and carries a minimum fine of $200, plus court fees.

Don’t Tailgate — Driving the speed limit also makes it easier for drivers to avoid tailgating. More than half of all work zone crashes are rear-end collisions. Passenger vehicles traveling at 50 mph require 300 feet of stopping distance on dry roads. A loaded tractor-trailer needs 450 feet to come to a complete stop.

Pay Attention — Traveling at the posted speed limit allows motorists more response time to recognize and manage the changes in the roadway. Work zones are constantly changing environments. Travel lanes may be different from the last time you drove through the area. Added distractions like texting and talking on the phone, eating and drinking, or adjusting the radio and navigation system divert your attention from the primary task of driving.

When you see orange barrels, maintain a safe speed, pay attention, and put your phone away. Keep the men and women who maintain and build our roads safe, and you and your passengers as well.

QUIZ: National Work Zone Awareness Week

Take our quiz to test your knowledge of work zone safety.

Each year, National Work Zone Awareness Week highlights the critical issue of road user and worker safety in and around work zones. Traffic pattern shifts, large work vehicles, and sudden congestion are just some of the factors which may lead to crashes, injuries, and even fatalities.

According to the most up-to-date data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 135 workers and 140 pedestrians and bicyclists lost their lives due to work zone crashes in 2019.

Take this quiz to test your knowledge of work zone safety.

Transportation Fair Coming to West Osceola Branch Library April 14

Stop in at the West Osceola Branch Library, located at 305 Campus St., Kissimmee, Thursday, April 14, between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to participate in some transportation activities and learn more about safety programs available in your area.

The pop-up transportation fair will feature a selection of informational booths, fun activities, and safety resources from the Florida Department of Transportation’s I-4 Beyond the Ultimate program, Florida Highway Patrol, and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.

Construction is underway on Interstate 4 (I-4) near the interchanges of County Road 532 at ChampionsGate and State Road (S.R.) 429. An I-4 Beyond the Ultimate informational booth will feature display boards and maps of the current improvements underway on I-4 in Osceola County.

Team members from I-4 Express — the new I-4 managed lanes between Kirkman Road (S.R. 435) and S.R. 434 — will be at the fair to answer any questions about the new travel choice. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office will be on hand to share important pedestrian safety tips. Safe Mobility for Life — a coalition of organizations that works to increase safety, access, and mobility for aging road users — will have a lot of great educational resources available to share.

The pop-up transportation fairs are an easy way to learn more about local FDOT project information and safety programs. The fairs also feature games and activities related to roadway safety. Learn where the next transportation fair will be in Central Florida by following the I-4 Ultimate and Beyond Twitter account.

Construction Progress Continues at I-4 and County Road 532 Interchange

Work on the ChampionsGate Diverging Diamond Interchange continues to show progress.

Construction on the new Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) at Interstate 4 (I-4) and County Road (C.R.) 532 near ChampionsGate is progressing smoothly. The excavation of the pond on the southwest corner of the interchange continues and is retaining the runoff water and filtering out pollutants in the area within the project limits.

Significant work is also being done to the eastbound and westbound entrance and exit ramps in the project area, with crews putting down subgrade and bases. The subgrade is the natural soil that is usually compacted prior to installation of the subbase, which is the layer of lean concrete, recycled concrete, or crushed rock on top. When crews complete the subgrade and subbase, they can work on the base, which is the layer of either crushed gravel, crushed stone, or sand on top of the subbase. Adding these layers provides strength and support to the overlying pavement and creates a more workable surface prior to the installation of the pavement.

Drainage crews on the project are also maintaining the area to prevent damage and erosion, which can occur due to the frequency and volume of rainfall in Central Florida.

The estimated completion time for this project is in late 2022. For more information on the planned improvements on I-4 in Osceola County, visit I4Beyond.com/ChampionsGate.