Central Florida Crews Respond Rapidly to Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton made landfall along the southwest coast of Florida on the evening of Wednesday, October 9. After the storm passed and it was safe to go out and assess the damage, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) employees and contractors spread out across Central Florida to conduct “windshield surveys” to see how the transportation system held up in the storm.

The projects underway along I-4 in Orange and Seminole counties sustained only minimal impacts due to the storm, and crews were able to quickly assess and resolve them to make the roadways safe for the traveling public.

After any hurricane, FDOT’s top priority is reopening roadways for first responders and the traveling public. To assist with that, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis extended toll suspension across Central Florida, West Florida, and Alligator Alley for several days after the storm, allowing residents who evacuated to return to their homes more easily.

Drone Footage Shows Progress at C.R. 46A and Rinehart Road Project

Click on image above to view video.

Construction continues to improve capacity at the intersection of County Road (C.R.) 46A (H.E. Thomas Jr. Parkway) and Rinehart Road near the Interstate 4 (I-4) and C.R. 46A interchange. Recent drone footage (click the image above) shows the progress crews are making on the project.

The video shows the progress of the ongoing road widening on eastbound C.R. 46A, where crews are adding right turn lanes to southbound Rinehart Road, and viewers can see an overhead sign that will be removed to accommodate the wider road footprint. The sign must be removed prior to reopening the sidewalk along C.R. 46A.

Additionally, the footage shows the traffic signal mast arms that crews recently installed at the intersection, widening and new pavement on southbound Rinehart Road for a new right turn lane to westbound C.R. 46A, and the progress of the extension of the left turn lanes from westbound C.R. 46A to southbound Rinehart Road.

For more information on these improvements, visit the project page.

Buckle Up: National Seat Belt Day is November 14

Did you know that wearing a seat belt reduces your risk of serious injury or death by almost 50%? While 89.4% of Floridians understand this, 10.6% of the state’s drivers still take the risk. As National Seat Belt Day approaches on November 14, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) urges everyone to buckle up.

In Florida, buckling up is the law: All drivers, front-seat passengers, and passengers under 18 must wear a seat belt. The consequence of breaking this law can range from a $30 fine to a far higher cost — serious injury or even death.

Here’s why your risk nearly doubles without a seat belt:

• Seat belts and airbags work together: Airbags alone aren't enough to protect you in a crash. In fact, without a seat belt, an airbag can cause serious injury.
• Speed matters: The speed of your vehicle is the speed at which you could be thrown from it if you’re not wearing a seat belt.
• Unbuckled rider/driver risk: In a crash, unsecured drivers or passengers can be thrown around and injure or kill those who are using their seat belts correctly.

Even if you’re a cautious driver, you can’t control others’ actions on the road. You may not cause a crash, but you could still be involved in one. To set a good example for others, buckle up!

Seat belts should be worn snugly across the lap and chest — two parts of your body better able to withstand the force of a crash. The lap belt should secure your body at the pelvis, and the shoulder belt should rest on your rib cage. Never place the shoulder belt behind your back or under your arms, and make sure the belt does not rest against your neck.

For children, additional safety measures such as car seats may be necessary depending on their age and size. Always follow Florida’s safety regulations for child passengers. Learn more about seat belt safety at fdot.gov/agencyresources/clickitorticket.

Employee Spotlight: Shane Carter, Construction Manager

Crews along Central Florida’s tourism corridor are hard at work, sometimes handling two or three projects at the same time. A critical component of making sure everything runs smoothly is an experienced, effective construction manager.

Shane Carter serves as the construction manager for the Interstate 4 (I-4) and Sand Lake Road (State Road (S.R.) 482) interchange improvement project, the I-4 exit to S.R. 528 ramp widening project, and the I-4 and Apopka-Vineland Road (S.R. 535) interchange project. As the construction manager, he is involved with planning every detail of a day’s and night’s work and ensuring it is successful.

“I love very complex challenges — it’s the chess-playing of construction work,” Carter said. “I love the logistics side of it, which is what I specialize in. Being able to keep crews moving through two or three jobs at all times and never missing a lick — it’s the thing that keeps me coming to work every day.”

Carter is a native of Alexandria, Louisiana, a town about three and a half hours northwest of New Orleans, and has worked 35 years in construction. He got his start at an early age, working for his dad’s surveying business. After graduating from high school, he jumped right into construction work as a full-time surveyor.

Shane worked his way up from surveyor to foreman, then to division manager, and finally became the CEO of the company for five years. He said his quick rise taught him a lot of valuable lessons in being a good boss.

“It helps me deal with my employees with whatever problems they may have in the field,” Carter said. “In the company I was with before, the training was intense. We did years in each section. So, with the amount of training I’ve had, I’m able to sit down with the guys today and talk through issues.”

After semi-retiring, Carter got a call to come check out a project underway in Central Florida — the Wekiva Parkway Section Eight project, which included building 23 bridges. It was a big job for anyone, but after living his whole life in Louisiana, the chance to change his surroundings and leave his mark in a growing place like Orlando was an exciting prospect for Carter.

Since his arrival in Florida, Carter has had his hand in many projects. Most recently, he helped execute the diverging diamond interchange (DDI) changeover on Sand Lake Road at I-4 in one night, something he says he is most proud of.

“Being challenged to do that in a one-day period, to get the team together and develop a plan and execute it, it was a great challenge,” said Carter. “In an eight-hour window, we did the complete DDI changeover with all the traffic up and operational by 7:30 in the morning. Things like that are a complex challenge that I love. It was an amazing experience.”

Outside of work, Carter enjoys bass fishing with his wife, walking around Lake Eola Park, and other relaxing activities that allow for a calm mind.