Progress Continues on Daryl Carter Parkway Improvement Project

Construction crews at the Daryl Carter Parkway interchange project are busy working on the new eastbound I-4 entrance ramp.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) continues to make progress on the improvement project turning the Daryl Carter Parkway overpass over Interstate 4 (I-4) into an interchange with exit ramps from both directions of I-4 and an eastbound entrance. The project is converting the Daryl Carter Parkway overpass into a diverging diamond interchange (DDI) as part of I-4 Beyond the Ultimate.

The project is still in its early stages. The median traffic separator between eastbound and westbound Daryl Carter Parkway is being removed, and that work has required some temporary daytime lane closures in the area so that crews can work safely.

The delivery, installation, and driving of piles is also underway. The purpose of pile driving is to provide safe and stable foundations for bridges and overpasses. Piles are underground pillars made of concrete or steel. They can be placed into the ground using vibration or driven into the ground with a hydraulic or diesel-powered hammer, depending on the soil conditions. People near pile driving activity can sometimes hear this hammer and feel the vibrations.

Crews are excavating various ponds in the project area. Pond excavation is essential to any construction project and plays a huge part in a project’s success. Excavation is the removal of dirt, rocks, and any other objects that may impede construction. Ponds are largely used to lower peak stormwater runoff rates by storing water temporarily during heavy storms. They also help prevent flooding.

For more information on the construction at Daryl Carter Parkway, visit i4beyond.com/darylcarterparkway and for more information on DDIs, visit i4beyond.com/toolkit/diverging-diamond-interchange-toolkit.

Construction Coming Soon to John Young Parkway

Improvements to the westbound Interstate 4 (I-4) exit ramp to John Young Parkway and LB McLeod Road are set to begin in June. This project’s goal is to alleviate congestion and merging traffic conflicts on John Young Parkway (County Road (C.R.) 423) north of the I-4 interchange.

To improve safety for vehicles traveling to eastbound LB McLeod Road, the existing exit ramp to the traffic signal will be widened to include designated right and left turns onto John Young Parkway. The purpose of this modified ramp is to prevent vehicles from crossing over lanes of traffic of John Young Parkway to eastbound LB McLeod Road by constructing a raised concrete traffic separator on the existing loop ramp to westbound LB McLeod Road.

Upcoming improvements for motorists and pedestrians include upgraded signals, featuring “Smart Signal” technology, which will provide real-time data and video information to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Additional pedestrian upgrades include updating curb ramps to fulfill Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and adding a pedestrian median on the north side of the John Young Parkway and LB McLeod Road intersection.

The project will also upgrade signage and pavement markings and install wrong way vehicle detection systems on the westbound I-4 exit ramp. Crews will mill and resurface southbound John Young Parkway and the westbound I-4 exit ramp and improve drainage in the project limits. Lighting will be upgraded for the westbound I-4 exit ramp crosswalks and the right turn lanes to westbound LB McLeod Road by relocating the existing light pole on the westbound exit ramp island.

First Section of Hicks Avenue Extension Project Opening Soon

A new roundabout is being built with the Hicks Avenue Extension project. When complete, this roundabout will be located at the intersection of Hicks Avenue and Carter Street.

The Hicks Avenue Extension project is making significant progress toward restoring historic ties between the Griffin Park and Parramore neighborhoods just west of Orlando’s Central Business District. When complete, the project will extend Hicks Avenue from Anderson Street to Gore Street, improving connectivity for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

Crews have already built a segment of Hicks Avenue from Anderson Street to Carter Street. They have also extended Carter Street from Parramore Avenue to Division Avenue.

The new portion of Carter Street, which includes a new roundabout at Carter Street and Hicks Avenue, may be the first new connection to open to motorists. This new road could open as soon as the end of May. The next portion of the project to open will be Hicks Avenue south of Carter Street. This is scheduled to open toward the end of 2023 and includes a roundabout at Hicks Avenue and Conley Street.

Other project improvements include new sidewalks and streetlamps along both sides of Hicks Avenue and new signalized intersections with Anderson Street and Gore Street.

The project, a joint effort of the City of Orlando and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2024. For more information about the Hicks Avenue Extension project visit i4ultimate.com/hicks or call 321-988-9375.

National Motorcycle Safety Month Coming in May

May is National Motorcycle Safety Month, which makes the coming weeks the perfect time to reflect on motorcycle safety — whether you ride a motorcycle or not. According to Ride Smart Florida, there were 551 motorcycle fatalities in 2020. Keeping every motorist safe is everyone’s responsibility, so here are some important things to keep in mind.

If you ride a motorcycle, it’s important to remember that motorcycle crashes frequently involve a combination of high-risk behaviors by motorcyclists or motorists. Some of these behaviors include riding or driving without a valid license or endorsement, riding or driving while under the influence of alcohol, riding or driving without properly using safety devices such as helmets or seatbelts, and speeding.

As a motorcyclist, remember to always ride SMART.

S – Say No to Drinking and Driving

Drinking not only influences your perception, thinking, and coordination, but it can also come with a lot of unexpected consequences. Being convicted of a DUI can result in a minimum of 72 hours in jail, $10,000 in fines, and a two-year suspension of your license. According to Ride Smart Florida, roughly one-third of Florida motorcycle fatalities involve alcohol or drugs. Always ride sober.

M – Make Yourself More Visible to Motorists

If you’re riding a motorcycle, it’s good to be noticed. Too often motorists pull out in front of motorcycles, usually to make a left turn, and cause deadly crashes just because they don’t see them. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 42 percent of two-vehicle crashes involving motorcycles occur when a vehicle turns left while the motorcycle is going straight, passing, or overtaking a vehicle. Motorcyclists who make themselves more visible are less likely to have their right of way violated.

A – Always Wear Your Helmet When You Ride

Helmets are the most important pieces of safety equipment for motorcyclists to reduce the extent of head injuries. According to the NHTSA, a non-helmeted motorcyclist is 40 percent more likely to suffer a fatal head injury and 15 percent more likely to suffer a nonfatal head injury than a helmeted rider if involved in a crash. The state of Florida requires all riders under the age of 21 to wear a U.S. Department of Transportation-compliant helmet.

R – Ride Within Legal/Personal Limits

According to Ride Smart Florida, one-fourth of all motorcycle fatalities in Florida involve speeding. Riding the speed limit may allow other drivers to gauge your speed and distance properly, gives them a better chance to see you, and gives yourself time to react to whatever comes your way. The fine for exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 mph is $1,000 for the first offense and $2,500 for the second. The second offense also comes with license revocation for a year, and a third offense may result in you being charged with a third-degree felony.

T – Train Regularly and Get Endorsed

On average, riders have less than four seconds to avoid a crash after observing a potential hazard. Reacting safely and efficiently requires practice and muscle memory. An advanced motorcycle training course is an exciting way for you to practice crash-avoidance techniques and to enhance your overall riding experience. For more information on a training course near you, visit ridesmartflorida.com/training.

It’s everyone’s responsibility to make sure both motorists and motorcyclists make it safely to their destination. To learn more about motorcycle safety, visit ridesmartflorida.com and FDOT’s motorcycle safety page. You can also learn about FDOT’s statewide Target Zero initiative to reduce the number of transportation-related serious injuries and deaths across Florida to zero.