FDOT Hosts Site Visit for International Road Federation Engineers

On December 13, 2024, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) hosted engineers from the International Road Federation (IRF) for a visit to the Interstate 4 (I-4) and Daryl Carter Parkway interchange project site. The event gave the visiting engineers a look into the construction progress at Daryl Carter Parkway and highlighted the ways FDOT is improving roadways in Central Florida.

The IRF engineers, representing a variety of countries such as Uruguay and Saint Lucia, met the construction team at the project trailers for a comprehensive presentation. They were shown an overview of the project, drone footage of the construction progress, and time-lapse footage of a traditional interchange being converted to a diverging diamond interchange (DDI) — similar to the Daryl Carter Parkway project’s final configuration. The visuals gave the engineers a detailed look at the interchange’s design, functionality, and the progress of the project to date.

“The visit gives us the chance to show international engineers what we’re working on and how our projects improve traffic and safety,” said Ryan Flipse, District Five construction engineer for the FDOT Orlando Operations Center. “It’s also a great way to share ideas and learn from each other to make transportation better for everyone.”

After the presentation, the engineers were given hard hats and reflective vests to join the team at the construction site and learn more about the project. The team at the work zone discussed the benefits of a DDI and how its design reduces conflict points by eliminating left turns at traffic signals. The team also explained how this new interchange will provide access to I-4 with the addition of new exit ramps from both directions and a new eastbound I-4 entrance ramp.

FDOT public information consultants were on site to provide an overview of outreach efforts to community stakeholders and to explain how keeping the public informed is vital to the project’s success. The engineers were able to walk around the construction site and get answers to their questions about the project throughout the visit.

FDOT is proud to work with the IRF to share ideas and knowledge with transportation professionals from around the world, helping to create safer and smarter ways to travel.

Recent Drone Footage Shows Progress at C.R. 46A and U.S. 17-92 Projects

Click on image above to view video.

Two Seminole County improvement projects along Interstate 4 (I-4) are nearing completion. Crews are working to finish improvements at the I-4 and U.S. 17-92 interchange and the County Road (C.R.) 46A (H.E. Thomas Jr. Parkway) and Rinehart Road intersection.

The drone footage linked above, taken in early January, captures these improvements and shows how far the projects have come since construction started. Viewers will see features that have been added to both locations to enhance safety and mobility in Seminole County.

For more information on the I-4 and U.S. 17-92 interchange, visit I4Beyond.com/us1792.

For more information on the C.R. 46A and Rinehart Road intersection near the I-4 and C.R. 46A interchange, visit I4Beyond.com/cr46a.

Pile Driving Underway Alongside Westbound I-4 Over Central Florida Parkway

As part of the Interstate 4 (I-4) at Sand Lake Road (State Road (S.R.) 482) interchange project, crews are working to construct a new bridge alongside westbound I-4 over Central Florida Parkway. This new bridge will form part of the westbound I-4 Express extension from its current endpoint at Kirkman Road (S.R. 435) through World Center Drive (S.R. 536).

This month, crews began driving steel piles that will form the main support for this new bridge. Over a one-month period, crews will drive a total of 16 piles alongside westbound I-4 over Central Florida Parkway. Pile driving is a construction process that involves driving vertical steel or concrete columns into the ground to create a foundation for a structure, such as a roadway bridge. Piles often need to be placed more than 100 feet underground to provide safe, stable foundations for bridges and overpasses.

Inspectors monitor vibrations to ensure there are no disturbances to nearby buildings. Noise levels can fluctuate, so pile driving occurs during daytime hours to minimize impacts to nearby residents, businesses, and visitors. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) conducted outreach and distributed more than 100 handouts to nearby businesses and communities to prepare for the operation.

Once completed, I-4 Express will feature two barrier-separated westbound express lanes from its current endpoint at Kirkman Road to just west of Sand Lake Road. The two barrier-separated lanes will then transition to a single, buffer-separated westbound express lane. The fully completed express lane will be constructed over the course of three separate projects extending from west of Sand Lake Road to west of World Center Drive. For more information about the project, visit i4beyond.com/sandlake.

Employee Spotlight: Sebastian Jaramillo, Assistant Project Manager

When complete, the Daryl Carter Parkway overpass will become a new diverging diamond interchange (DDI) over Interstate 4 (I-4). The new interchange will provide important congestion relief to nearby interchanges along I-4 and improve traffic flow through Central Florida’s attractions area.

Sebastian Jaramillo is an assistant project manager, overseeing project engineers, determining their schedules and assignments, reviewing material quantities and budgets, and ensuring his team is keeping up with deadlines and subcontractor schedules. His responsibilities vary day to day, with tasks such as drainage, roadway construction, and micro tunneling operations underneath live traffic. Jaramillo also looks for ways to foster the growth of the engineers he oversees so they can be successful in their current and future roles.

“We all have the mentality here that whenever we need to do something, we assist each other,” Jaramillo said. “Everybody takes on whatever role needs to get done that day and makes sure the other engineers are moving within their scopes as well.”

Jaramillo has been working in construction for eight years, spending his first two years as an intern before graduating from the University of Central Florida in 2019. He then worked on Wekiva Parkway (State Road (S.R.) 429) Section 6 for five years prior to moving to the Daryl Carter Parkway project. Since his transition to the project, Jaramillo has been promoted from project engineer to assistant manager and has welcomed his new responsibilities.

Construction has been a longtime source of interest for Jaramillo, stemming from his family’s experience as engineers in Colombia. He has worked in a variety of roles, but said he prefers to work in the field.

“My first internship for a few months was as an estimator, and I realized staying in the office the whole time was not for me,” Jaramillo said. “I got more opportunities going into the field, and I realized it was the right choice.”

On the Daryl Carter Parkway project, Jaramillo leads his teams through the rapidly changing work along I-4. He’s adapted to the challenges and has recognized how he has grown on the job.

“It keeps you on your toes, it makes you learn, and you gain experience,” Jaramillo said about working on the improvements at Daryl Carter Parkway and Central Florida Parkway as well as along I-4. “Having those challenges, that’s how you grow up really.”

Outside of work, Jaramillo said he enjoys playing golf and spending time with his wife and one-year-old son.

To learn more about Jaramillo’s project, visit i4beyond.com/darylcarter.