New I-4 Entrance Ramp Opens at Sand Lake Road

Click on image above to view video.

The westbound Interstate 4 (I-4) entrance ramp from Sand Lake Road (State Road (S.R.) 482) opened the morning of January 31, marking yet another milestone for the I-4 and Sand Lake Road interchange improvement project. An overnight closure of the existing ramp allowed crews to safely transition traffic to the new ramp.

As seen in the footage linked above, not much has changed for motorists who wish to access the westbound I-4 entrance ramp. Motorists traveling westbound on Sand Lake Road will stay in the left lane in the diverging diamond interchange (DDI) to access the ramp, and motorists traveling eastbound on Sand Lake Road make a simple right turn onto the ramp.

The original westbound I-4 entrance ramp was removed to make way for the new loop ramp system that will connect westbound Sand Lake Road and westbound I-4 directly to Turkey Lake Road. The loop ramp will pass under the new westbound I-4 entrance ramp.

Once the loop ramp opens, motorists traveling westbound on Sand Lake Road who want to access Turkey Lake Road south of the interchange will no longer turn left across traffic. Instead, they will enter the loop ramp on the right and pass over Sand Lake Road. At the end of the ramp, they can choose to travel north or south on Turkey Lake Road.

For more information on the project, visit i4beyond.com/SandLake.

Understanding Traffic Signal Work on Roadway Projects

On many roadway projects, proper installation of traffic signals is a crucial step in ensuring that an intersection or road is safe for motorists. Depending on the scope of the project, plans can call for installation of new traffic signals or changes to existing signals.

Before a traffic signal can be installed, a traffic engineering study takes place to determine if there is a need for a new signal. In these studies, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) determines how the new signal, if needed, will be funded and who will install it. With many of the Interstate 4 (I-4) improvement projects, changes to signalization components are necessary during road work.

A project’s signalization plans lay out the location and types of required signals for the construction team. The plan can include details on how many signals are needed to accommodate each lane of the road and how the green, yellow, and red lights are sequenced.

Crews install mast arms — long horizontal poles that hold the signal lights — or wired supports, which suspend signals above the roadway. They also install underground cables connecting the signals to power. The process starts with crews installing drilled shafts — concrete cylinders that hold the signals' support structures in place — in identified areas. Crews must wait 28 days for the concrete to “cure,” enabling it to achieve its full strength and durability over time. While waiting for the concrete drilled shafts to cure, crews install signal cables. Once the concrete is ready, crews install the mast arms or wired supports. The poles are installed first so crews can attach the mast arms or wired supports as specified in their plans.

When all mast arms are installed, the crews hook up wires to power the signals and connect intelligent transportation system (ITS) devices mounted on the mast arm. ITS devices help FDOT manage traffic flow.

County and FDOT officials test and activate advanced warning signs (flashing amber lights) to alert the traveling public to the presence of new signals in the area. In Central Florida, new signals must be in testing mode for a period of seven to 14 days. County engineers and FDOT match or adjust the timing of other nearby signals as needed. Once this testing is complete, the signals are ready for use.

Following these steps ensures construction teams meet FDOT standards of safety and connectivity across Central Florida’s roadways when completing traffic signal work. This work allows the signals to function correctly and ensures motorists can travel safely on Florida’s roadways.

Employee Spotlight: Lindsey Barnwell, P.E., Construction Project Manager

Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) crews are working across southern Orange County on multiple projects to improve the Interstate 4 (I-4) corridor. These projects include reconstructing the I-4 interchanges at Sand Lake Road (State Road (S.R.) 482) and Apopka-Vineland Road (S.R. 535), converting the Daryl Carter Parkway overpass into a new diverting diamond interchange, and widening the westbound I-4 ramp to eastbound S.R. 528 (Beachline Expressway). These critical junctions in Florida’s tourism corridor serve millions of drivers per year, highlighting the importance of these projects.

Lindsey Barnwell, P.E., serves as the FDOT construction project manager for these four projects, directly overseeing the construction engineering and inspection (CEI) teams. Barnwell represents FDOT on these projects, seeking compliance with stakeholder interests and maintaining constant coordination between these projects.

Barnwell has 19 years of engineering experience. After graduating from the University of Miami with bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering and architectural engineering, she began her career with FDOT in the Professional Engineering Training Program. In this program, trainees rotate around the various departments within FDOT, gaining a wide range of experience in multiple areas of engineering and construction.

“Once I stepped foot in the construction office, I knew that is where I wanted to focus my career,” she said. “It is a fast-paced environment in which you can see your decisions being built in real time.”

After working for FDOT as a project administrator and project manager for six years, Barnwell began working at RK&K, where she has held the role of senior project engineer for 13 years. Some of the notable projects Barnwell has worked on include two sections of Wekiva Parkway in Mount Dora and the S.R. 436 and S.R. 528 interchange project, which serves as the gateway to the Orlando International Airport.

March 2-8 is Women in Construction Week, and when asked what she would want other women to know about the construction field, Barnwell said, “The career can be very rewarding, working with various teams to build a project that will benefit the surrounding communities for many years. Construction management is a fast-paced environment where your impact can be felt in real time. Each day presents a new challenge, so it allows you to continually develop professionally and use a wide range of skills (including) engineering, contract management, and leadership.”

Barnwell enjoys coming to the table with the project management team, establishing a common goal, understanding everyone’s interests, and working to develop solutions that benefit the project.

“Issue resolution requires answering multidimensional puzzles that are only solved by teamwork, consideration to time, money, stakeholder commitments, contract requirements, and safety,” she said.

Outside of work, Barnwell takes pleasure in spending time outdoors with her husband and three children. They enjoy the local theme parks, gardening, and riding bikes.

It’s Time to Check for Safety Recalls

Dealing with a vehicle safety recall may seem inconvenient, but it could save your life. That’s why the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is reminding all motorists to check for recalls during this year’s Vehicle Safety Recalls Week, which is March 3-9.

A recall occurs when a manufacturer finds that a particular model or piece of equipment is faulty or does not meet safety standards. In 2023 alone, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), manufacturers issued 1,000 safety recalls covering more than 34 million vehicles and other automotive equipment in the United States.

Automakers are required to notify car owners of a recall by mail. These mailed notices are easy to miss, however, so it’s a good idea to check for recalls at least twice a year.

Fortunately, checking for recalls is now easier than ever. Simply visit nhtsa.gov/recalls and search by your 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN), which can be found on the bottom of the driver's side of your car’s windshield or on your vehicle’s registration. Using a recently added feature, you can also search by entering your state and license plate number. You can search the same site for recalls related to child car seats, bike racks, tires, and other equipment.

If you find a recall that applies to your vehicle, you are entitled to a free repair. Carefully follow the instructions in the recall notice. A typical notice will direct you to contact the appropriate auto dealership for a service appointment, where their mechanics will fix the problem for free.

When you turn your clocks forward for Daylight Saving Time on March 9, remember to check for vehicle safety recalls – for your safety and that of your passengers.