New Westbound I-4 Exit Ramp Opens at Sand Lake Road

On Saturday, May 17, crews at the Interstate 4 (I-4) and Sand Lake Road (State Road (S.R) 482) interchange project opened the new westbound I-4 exit ramp to Sand Lake Road. The new ramp begins at the previous westbound I-4 exit ramp's access point, but now motorists travel underneath the loop ramp currently being constructed at Sand Lake Road, rather than around it. The former exit ramp will be demolished to make way for the construction of the new loop ramp. The opening of I-4’s new, realigned exit ramp to Sand Lake Road is a vital step toward transforming the interchange into its final configuration, which will include reconfigured and lengthened I-4 ramps.

The new exit ramp connects to Sand Lake Road closer to the I-4 overpass than the former ramp. Bringing the ramp closer to the overpass is intended to provide relief to the surrounding intersections by creating greater distance between these intersections and the I-4 entrance and exit ramps at Sand Lake Road. The tightening of the diverging diamond interchange (DDI) footprint will also provide crews with the space necessary to complete the construction of the new loop ramp on the north side of Sand Lake Road just west of I-4.

Crews are constructing a new loop ramp system which will connect westbound I-4 and westbound Sand Lake Road directly to Turkey Lake Road. The new ramp will eliminate left turns across traffic from westbound Sand Lake Road to southbound Turkey Lake Road without motorists queuing at the traffic signal adjacent to the westbound I-4 exit ramp to Sand Lake Road. This will improve safety while eliminating a traffic signal phase, making the interchange more efficient.

Motorists traveling on westbound I-4 who wish to access Turkey Lake Road will also be able to bypass Sand Lake Road entirely once the new ramp system is complete, reducing the number of vehicles passing through the I-4 and Sand Lake Road interchange.

Construction on this project began in spring 2023 and is anticipated to reach completion in 2027. To learn more about the project, visit I4beyond.com/sandlake.

New Connection to I-4 Coming Soon to Daryl Carter Parkway

A new Interstate 4 (I-4) interchange will open soon, providing Central Florida motorists with more travel options in Orlando’s busy tourism corridor. A new diverging diamond interchange (DDI) will open as soon as July, when crews working on the Daryl Carter Parkway overpass improvement project connect three new ramps to I-4 — two new exit ramps from I-4 to Daryl Carter Parkway and a new eastbound I-4 entrance ramp. A westbound I-4 entrance ramp will be built as part of a future project.

Here’s an overview of what motorists can expect when the I-4 and Daryl Carter Parkway improvement project reaches this crucial milestone.

The new DDI will allow motorists to enter or exit I-4 at Daryl Carter Parkway without making left turns across traffic, which will enhance safety by reducing conflict points — places where vehicles cross paths or merge. Without left turns across traffic, there is no need for a left-turn phase, reducing the number of signal phases from four to two and decreasing the amount of time motorists will spend waiting at red lights in the interchange.

Motorists traveling in either direction of Daryl Carter Parkway will cross over to the left side of the road at the first traffic signal, following pavement markings and staying in their lane. After crossing over I-4 on the bridge, motorists will then encounter a second signal, where the pavement markings will guide them back to the right side of the road. Drivers entering or exiting I-4 should follow the pavement markings and all posted signs.

Compared to a traditional interchange, a DDI moves almost double the traffic through the intersection in the same amount of time, while lowering the frequency and severity of crashes.

The new interchange will also feature a barrier-protected pedestrian walkway in the Daryl Carter Parkway median, new crosswalks, and a bicycle lane in each direction of Daryl Carter Parkway. Pedestrian-activated crossing signals will allow pedestrians to more safely use the new crosswalks and enter the median walkway.

Construction on the project began in 2022 and is anticipated to be completed in the coming months.

For more information on this project, visit I4beyond.com/darylcarter.

Crews Shift Traffic on Westbound I-4 Exit Ramp to Eastbound S.R. 528

Crews on the Interstate 4 (I-4) and State Road (S.R.) 528 (Beachline Expressway) ramp-widening project shifted traffic to a newly constructed right lane on the westbound I-4 exit ramp to eastbound S.R. 528. The traffic shift was necessary to complete roadwork on the left lane. To prepare for the shift, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) implemented nightly closures on the ramp in mid-April.

The new lane was added earlier this year when crews constructed a bridge adjacent to the westbound I-4 exit ramp to widen it from one to two lanes. To construct the new bridge, crews drove piles into the ground to serve as the foundation for the new bridge, and then set six beams over I-4 to serve as support for the widened ramp.

Next, crews poured approximately 240 cubic yards of concrete over the beams to create the ramp’s driving surface. After ample curing time, the new surface is now strong enough to support the many motorists that will use this additional lane. The traffic shift is expected to be in place for the next several months as crews complete bridge renovation work.

The traffic shift is a critical step in the project, which is expected to improve traffic flow from westbound I-4 onto eastbound S.R. 528. With two lanes instead of one connecting these two major Central Florida highways, the new configuration will allow about twice the number of vehicles to travel over the ramp in the same amount of time. The project began in January 2024 and is anticipated to reach completion in 2026.

For more information, visit the project website at I4beyond.com/sr528.

June 6 is Secure Your Load Day

The difference between life and death for the person driving behind you may depend on how well you secure the items in the bed of your truck or strapped to your vehicle. Each year, more than 700 people die as a result of unsecured loads. An unsecured load is any cargo, object, or debris that is not properly fastened, tied, covered, or restrained in or on a vehicle. This includes ladders, wood, scrap material, tools, mattresses, plants or trees, bikes, or anything else that could fly from a vehicle.

Secure Your Load Day is recognized across the nation on June 6. It serves as a day of remembrance of the lives lost to unsecured loads and provides an opportunity to educate drivers on how to properly secure objects to prevent further injuries and fatalities.

These simple steps could save someone’s life:

• Tie large objects directly to your vehicle and ensure ropes or bungee cords are tight.
• Cover all of your items with a tarp or netting and secure it on all sides.
• Don’t overfill your vehicle.
• Check for loose items — nothing should be able to shift, fall, or become airborne during travel.

Next time you get behind the wheel, ask yourself: would you feel safe driving behind your vehicle? Fasten your seat belt and secure your load. Learn more at secureyourload.com.