Crews at the Interstate 4 (I-4) and Sand Lake Road (State Road (S.R.) 482) interchange improvement project are making progress constructing a new ramp system at the interchange. The ramp system is a critical part of making the redesigned interchange safer and more efficient.

Work includes constructing mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls for a new loop ramp that will carry traffic from westbound Sand Lake Road to Turkey Lake Road. Crews are also conducting subgrade work and grading for the pavement as part of this process.

MSE walls consist of layers of soil and backfill — material that is compacted to provide stability and improve drainage to a foundation or structure. These layers are placed between two concrete wall panels to help stabilize the shape of the roadway and prevent erosion.

Crews then spread material called subgrade on top of the backfill between the MSE walls. Subgrade is also made primarily of soil with other materials, including lime rock, mixed in to provide stability. Once crews spread the subgrade, they compact it and add a layer of asphalt — called the base course — on top to form the road surface.

When crews complete the loop ramp structure, the left turn across traffic from westbound Sand Lake Road to southbound Turkey Lake Road will be eliminated, improving safety. Once the loop ramp opens, westbound traffic on Sand Lake Road will keep right and use the free-flow right turn onto the loop ramp to access Turkey Lake Road, improving traffic flow and efficiency in this heavily traveled interchange.

Construction on the project began in 2023 and is expected to reach completion in 2027.

To learn more about the project, visit I4Beyond.com/SandLake.

You probably rely on road signs more than you realize. Whether you’re traveling somewhere new, or going somewhere you’ve been hundreds of times, signs help you find your way. All along Interstate 4 (I-4), signs of all types lead you through multiple intersecting roadways, ongoing improvement projects, tourism corridors, communities, and more.

These signs may alert you to construction, let you know the speed limit, guide you to the correct lane, direct you along a detour, warn you of curves or shifts in the road, or help you find your exit. We learn to read and follow roadway signs when we learn to drive, but have you ever considered how large some of the signs must be to allow you to read them at highway speeds?

Speed limits on I-4 range from 55 to 70 mph, which means a sign must be large enough to see from a distance that allows drivers time to absorb the message and take action. As a general rule, the faster the speed, the larger the sign. For example, the average size of speed limit signs along I-4 is 4 feet wide and 5 feet tall, compared to speed limit signs on conventional roads that are only 2 by 2.5 feet.

Design engineers use a variety of resources, like the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), established by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Standard Highway Signs supplement as guides to determine the appropriate size for each sign, assessing safety and legibility throughout the process.

Most recently, design engineers with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) coordinated the production and installation of more than 50 new signs of all sizes at the I-4 and Daryl Carter Parkway interchange. The largest signs at this new interchange are the green entrance and exit signs that guide motorists on and off I-4, like the one seen in the image above. This sign can be seen while driving on eastbound I-4 and is 20 feet wide and 6.5 feet tall. That’s larger than the average great white shark and nearly double the length of the average alligator!

While not every highway sign is comparable to Florida’s largest wildlife, most are bigger than they seem. This isn’t accidental; it’s all about perspective. Signs are designed to be clear, legible, and just the right size for drivers to understand at a glance, helping everyone get where they need to go safely.

It’s up to every driver to act responsibly behind the wheel of a vehicle. Younger drivers need our help, as they are not as experienced on our roadways, have yet to fully develop their good driving habits, and are more prone to risky behaviors that could potentially put themselves and others in harm’s way. That’s why the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) joins the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) in recognizing October 19-25 as National Teen Driver Safety Week.

There are many ways to help our teen drivers and those they share the road with to stay safe. Experience matters, so parents should spend time in the car with their teen drivers to monitor their focus and help them develop safe driving habits.

Here are some key points to discuss with your teen driver so they can be safe on the road — not only during Teen Driver Safety Week, but year-round:

• Buckle up — 53% of teen drivers killed in crashes in 2023 were unbuckled. Florida law requires all drivers, front seat passengers, and passengers under the age of 18 to wear seat belts. A good practice is to teach young drivers to buckle up before they start the car and ensure their passengers do likewise.
• Limit passengers to limit distractions — More passengers can mean more distractions. For new drivers, limiting the number of passengers helps them focus on the road.
• Plan ahead — Make sure your teen knows to visually check their tires before driving. Before they put the car in gear, they should also know how much fuel is in the tank so they don’t get stranded in an unfamiliar or unsafe location.
• Stay focused — Teach your teens about the risks of distracted driving. Distractions, such as eating or adjusting climate controls while the vehicle is in motion, can significantly reduce a driver’s ability to react to other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, children, hazards, or inclement weather conditions. Phones should be on Do Not Disturb before driving to eliminate the urge to check texts. Loud music can prevent drivers from hearing emergency vehicle sirens, shouts from pedestrians or cyclists, or car horns from other motorists.
• Be accountable — Empower your teen(s) to pay attention while riding as a passenger with others and to speak up if the driver is speeding, distracted, or engaging in other unsafe behavior. It could mean the difference between getting somewhere safely and being caught up in a potentially dangerous situation.

Teen driver safety is not a one-time conversation or something that is limited to Teen Driver Safety Week. It is an ongoing effort that will make a difference in a teen driver’s life.

FLHSMV provides helpful information about teen driver safety on this page.

As he looked out on the construction site of the Interstate 4 (I-4) and State Road (S.R.) 528 (Beachline Expressway) ramp widening project, Superintendent Jake Wingrove smiled.

“I’ve always been kind of drawn to construction, to building things,” Wingrove said. “My father was in construction, on the electrical side of it, but even as a kid, growing up, I always loved it. I was always building something with my hands — forts, model cars, you name it.”

His passion led Wingrove to the University of Nebraska, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering. Originally, he wanted to work in vertical construction, helping to build tall buildings. But his work during a civil engineering internship in college changed his mind and fueled his desire to get into road construction.

“I saw what it was like to work on a project that is 5 to 7 miles long and how you have to figure out how to put the pieces together to make something that not only benefits yourself but the community as a whole,” Wingrove said.

Wingrove started out as an engineer and then transitioned to a superintendent role. His typical day consists of checking in with the construction crews under his leadership and daily meetings to make sure the project stays on schedule and on budget.

He says the sense of responsibility both thrills and motivates him every day.

“When you start a project and see it through from start to finish, get to hand it over to the public, and see the public using the new improvements, and it not only adds convenience, but also improvement and safety to the community, there’s no greater feeling,” Wingrove said. “It’s a great feeling of satisfaction to know that you’ve done something useful for your city.”

The improvements at S.R. 528 add capacity by widening the westbound I-4 ramp to eastbound S.R. 528 from one to two lanes. It’s a complex project that has its ups and downs, says Wingrove.

“The hardest part of a construction project is often balancing the time pressures with the absolute mandate for safety and quality work,” Wingrove said.

He says thorough planning is the best way to meet that challenge.

“If you have proper plans in place, such as plans for safety checklists, the correct crew size, and all the required materials on hand, you’ll be on the right track,” Wingrove said. “The amount of planning that goes into the smallest details on a project days, weeks, even months before a shovel goes into the ground may shock a few people. But if you have completed all your prior planning, everything you do goes step by step and goes well because you’ve already thought it through.”

When he isn’t on the construction site, Wingrove says he enjoys going to the beach with his wife, watching his favorite sports teams, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Orlando Magic, and doing construction projects around his house.