Sand Lake Road Interchange Improvements Underway

Work on the Sand Lake Road (State Road (S.R.) 482) and Interstate 4 (I-4) interchange began earlier this month. Crews started removing vegetation from the vacant area behind Phillips Crossing. This work will prepare the area for utility work and pile driving. Crews have also begun work on the median of I-4 south of Sand Lake Road.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is reconstructing the Sand Lake Road and I-4 interchange into a diverging diamond interchange (DDI). Drivers can expect the changeover from the current interchange to the initial DDI this fall. They can prepare for the changeover by learning more about DDIs.

Crews will put into place the final DDI configuration later in the project. This includes the construction of a loop ramp that will connect drivers on westbound Sand Lake Road with Turkey Lake Road. The loop ramp will replace the current left turn from westbound Sand Lake Road to southbound Turkey Lake Road.

This project will also reconstruct the I‑4 general use lanes from west of Sand Lake Road to the end of the I‑4 Ultimate project. Two westbound, barrier-separated, express lanes will be built from west of Sand Lake Road to west of Kirkman Road. These will transition to a single, buffer-separated express lane in the westbound direction from west of Sand Lake Road and tie in just west of Central Florida Parkway. This express lane will be constructed in three separate projects with the finished lane extending from west of Sand Lake Road to west of S.R. 536.

You can learn more about the Sand Lake Road and I-4 interchange project on i4beyond.com. You can also visit i4beyond.com/signup to sign up to receive advance construction alerts via email or text message.

New Auxiliary Lane Opens on Interstate 4 in Osceola County

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) continues to make progress on a project to add capacity to Interstate 4 (I-4) in Osceola County. A new auxiliary lane on eastbound I-4 between County Road (C.R.) 532 and State Road (S.R.) 429 opened earlier this month.

This recently opened auxiliary lane was constructed to help ease congestion that occurs as motorists merge onto I-4 from C.R. 532 (ChampionsGate Blvd.) and exit I-4 onto S.R. 429. The new auxiliary lane gives motorists traveling on I-4 from C.R. 532 to S.R. 429 an extra lane in which they do not have to merge into the general use lanes of I-4. The combination of these improvements was designed to increase capacity and improve traffic flow in the ChampionsGate area.

The project, which began in November 2021, also includes an auxiliary lane on westbound I-4 between the ramps of S.R. 429 and C.R 532. The westbound I-4 auxiliary lane is expected to open in the near future, with the goal of having both the eastbound and westbound I-4 auxiliary lanes open to the traveling public this spring. Motorists will continue to see construction improvements as the project continues until its anticipated completion date of early 2024.

Progress also continues on the project’s construction of an auxiliary lane on northbound S.R. 429 between I-4 and Sinclair Road. Additionally, the project will mill and resurface eastbound and westbound I-4 from the Polk/Osceola County line to west of S.R. 417 and mill and resurface S.R. 429 between I-4 and Sinclair Road. Milling and resurfacing will create a smoother roadway for motorists and extend the life of the pavement.

For more information on the progress of this interim project of I-4 Beyond the Ultimate, visit I4beyond.com/ChampionsGate or follow us on Twitter at @i4Ultimate.

National Secure Your Load Day Seeks to Keep Florida Motorists Safe

According to a 2016 study from the American Automobile Association (AAA), more than 25,000 crashes occur in Florida annually that are caused by failures to ensure vehicle loads are secure, resulting in more than 80 fatalities per year. If not secured properly, cargo can easily loosen and fall off of vehicles or trailers, causing dangerous roadway incidents for many Florida drivers.

With National Secure Your Load Day fast approaching on June 6, you can provide a safe driving experience for yourself and fellow motorists by noting some common types of unsecure loads:

• Parts becoming detached from a vehicle (tires, wheels, etc.).
• Heavy cargo, such as furniture and appliances without proper restraints in place.
• Tow trailers becoming separated from the towing vehicle.

As two-thirds of debris-related crashes are the result of items falling from a vehicle due to improper security, below are some helpful tips that may prevent dangerous roadway incidents from occurring:

• Tie down the load with rope, netting, tarp, and/or straps.
• Don’t overload the vehicle.
• Always double check the load to make sure it is indeed secure before driving.
• Ensure tires are filled and in good condition to prevent blowouts on the road.
• Ensure hitch and safety chain are not rusted or in need of repair before towing.
• Always double check for loose or dragging objects.

It’s also important to be aware of times of high unsecure load volume, as more than a third of crashes involving debris occur between 10 a.m. and 3:59 p.m., a time when many motorists haul heavy items like furniture or construction equipment.

For more information and tips on securing your load, please visit secureyourload.com