New Bridge Beams Placed at the I-4 and Sand Lake Road Interchange

Work continues at the Interstate 4 (I-4) and Sand Lake Road (State Road (S.R.) 482) interchange improvement project. Recently, crews reached a major milestone with the placement of beams for two new bridges over Sand Lake Road along I-4 in late August and early September.

Crews worked overnight at the interchange, intermittently closing Sand Lake Road to local traffic during the operation to give crews the space they needed to work safely and efficiently on these new bridges.

Beginning around midnight each night of the operation, two or three 75-ton beams arrived on trucks, and the bridge crew immediately began to prepare the beams for placement. Two large cranes — one at each end of the beam — were used to lift each beam above the bridge end bents. Crews then ensured the correct positioning, and the crane operators lowered the beam into place. Crews verified the placement, secured the beams, and then gave the signal for the cranes to release them.

This process was repeated a total of 26 times over several dates during a three-week period. The beams were set on two spans of two different bridges over Sand Lake Road. One of the new bridges over Sand Lake Road is part of a new loop ramp that will connect westbound Sand Lake Road and westbound I-4 with Turkey Lake Road, while the other will accommodate the expansion of I-4 Express on westbound I-4.

FDOT videographers captured one night of beam placement and the footage shows crews working to set three beams throughout the night. This time-lapse video, which you can access by clicking the thumbnail above, shows the beam-setting process and demonstrates how safely and efficiently crews set these beams.

Work on the project is estimated to reach completion in 2027. For more information on improvements at I-4 and Sand Lake Road, visit i4beyond.com/SandLake.

If this area is part of your daily commute, you can sign up for advance construction alerts here.

October 17 is Do Not Disturb While Driving Day

We’ve all seen the feature on our phone — the little half-moon that most of us use to keep our phone from buzzing when we’re trying to sleep so we are not disturbed. Just as we try to not look at our phone when napping, drivers should do the same when on the road. That’s exactly what the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is reminding drivers of this fall with the third annual Do Not Disturb While Driving Day approaching on October 17.

The Do Not Disturb feature on our phones blocks texts, calls, and other notifications while you are driving, which makes it easier to concentrate on the road until you get to your destination. According to the National Distracted Driving Coalition, the goal of Do Not Disturb While Driving Day is to raise awareness of the need for drivers to turn on the feature and turn off the temptation to look at their phone while on the road. The coalition is also encouraging employers to implement policies that will ensure their employees are distraction free while driving on business.

While the Do Not Disturb feature automatically silences and prevents incoming notifications from appearing on the screen when a mobile phone connects to a vehicle, research shows that few drivers have the feature set to automatically engage while driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving claimed 3,308 lives in 2022. An estimated 289,310 additional people were injured in crashes involving distracted driving in 2022.

FDOT reminds drivers to pay attention to the road and other drivers around them. For more information on distracted driving and how to avoid becoming a victim of it, visit the National Distracted Driving Coalition’s Do Not Disturb While Driving Day web page.

Employee Spotlight: Israel Ruiz, Senior Inspector

Crews at the Interstate 4 (I-4) and Apopka-Vineland Road (State Road (S.R.) 535) interchange project are working hard on numerous improvements to this critical interchange in Central Florida’s tourism corridor. An essential part of ensuring this project is completed to the highest standards of quality is the work of project inspectors.

Israel Ruiz serves as a senior inspector at the I-4 and S.R. 535 interchange project, spearheading a team of inspectors who maintain project quality and safety standards every day. He coordinates with the team to review their daily activities, stays up to date with field operations, and reviews the numerous reports on the project, maintaining an essential log of the project’s status. His duties include ensuring that each inspector is checking for any issues or details that require their attention.

“It is crucial to always stay informed about the project’s status and ensure that all safety conditions meet the necessary specifications and standards,” he said.

Israel earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Santa Maria University in Caracas, Venezuela.

“I practiced journalism in my country for several years, and it has greatly influenced my current career,” he said. “Although I am now pursuing a different path, the skills I gained from journalism, such as organization and responsibility, have been invaluable.”

Israel has extensive field experience in construction projects in South Florida, where he worked as a quality control inspector and earned multiple certifications. He has experience with projects at multiple levels, including at the county and state levels, with the Florida Turnpike, and with the Army Corp of Engineers.

“Practice, knowledge, and learning have opened doors for me to become a senior inspector,” he said. “And as the years go by, I continue to strengthen and nourish that knowledge to always present the best version of myself.”

Israel said that working on the S.R. 535 project has given him the chance to apply what he has learned and that he is grateful to be part of such an exceptional project team.

“I am dedicated to continuously expanding my knowledge, assisting field inspectors, and learning from my colleagues, who are always teaching me and presenting new challenges,” he said. “The connection and synchronicity necessary for the project, as well as the collective effort required to deliver exceptional work that will undoubtedly benefit all residents and visitors of Florida, bring me great satisfaction.”

Outside of work, Israel enjoys spending time with family, including his wife and son, as well as his friends. A dedicated soccer fan, Israel supports his favorite teams, which include the Venezuelan national team and Orlando City SC. For more information on Israel’s project, visit the I-4 and S.R. 535 interchange project page.