The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) completed construction this spring on a project that doubles the capacity of the westbound Interstate 4 (I-4) exit ramp to eastbound State Road (S.R.) 528 (Beachline Expressway) at Exit 72. Designed to ease congestion at the junction of two major Central Florida highways, the improvements at this ramp serve residents, visitors, commuters, and freight carriers traveling through Central Florida.

Construction began in January 2024 to widen the ramp from one lane to two. The project also reconfigured the ramp’s entrance and exit points to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion on I-4. The second lane of the newly widened ramp opened to drivers on January 18. Paving and striping operations in late March marked the final milestones for the project. Crews also upgraded lighting to provide improved visibility for motorists.

Approximately 92,000 vehicles use the I-4 and S.R. 528 interchange daily, serving as a gateway to destinations such as the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando International Airport, the Space Coast, and Florida’s popular east coast beaches.

For more information about this project, visit I4Beyond.com/SR528.

Watch the video below to check out the project’s improvements.

Do you travel on Turkey Lake Road south of its intersection with Sand Lake Road (State Road (S.R.) 482)? If so, your commute just got better! The new loop ramp system at the Interstate 4 (I-4) and Sand Lake Road interchange opened early Saturday morning, May 2, marking a major milestone for the improvement project. The loop ramp system provides a direct connection to Turkey Lake Road from I-4, while improving safety and easing congestion at one of Central Florida’s busiest interchanges.

This exciting milestone brings a few traffic pattern changes with it. The loop ramp replaced the left turn from westbound Sand Lake Road to southbound Turkey Lake Road, eliminating a turn movement and a traffic signal phase that contributed to congestion and backups at the interchange. Now, drivers traveling on westbound Sand Lake Road who want to access Turkey Lake Road keep right and enter the new loop ramp just before the Turkey Lake Road intersection.

Once on the new ramp, drivers cross over Sand Lake Road and continue to a signal at the intersection of Turkey Lake Road and Sand Lake Sound Road. From there, motorists can turn left at the signal to head south on Turkey Lake Road or turn right and head north to access the nearby shopping plaza.

Motorists traveling west on I-4 who are heading to Turkey Lake Road can now bypass Sand Lake Road with the new ramp system, reducing the number of vehicles using the I-4 and Sand Lake Road interchange. Exit 74A allows drivers to keep left and exit directly to Turkey Lake Road or keep right to access Sand Lake Road.

This new connection to Turkey Lake Road is already helping ease congestion at an interchange that serves approximately 115,000 vehicles daily. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) reminds drivers that this area is still an active construction zone. Use caution, watch for new signage, follow pavement markings, and plan ahead while everyone adjusts to the new traffic pattern.

To learn more about the progress at the I-4 and Sand Lake Road interchange improvement project, visit I4Beyond.com/SandLake. Click the image above to watch a short video showing the new features of the ramp.

Every Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) roadway project brings unique challenges and opportunities for success, something that Esther Montoya embraces in her role as an FDOT District Five construction program manager.

Montoya’s interest in drainage engineering led her to FDOT as a Professional Engineer (P.E.) trainee in 2014, and she now holds that professional designation. Working through different rotations over the following years, she took an interest in construction operations, and she now helps oversee multiple projects within District Five.

“As I continued with the rotations, the next phase was in operations,” Montoya said. “That was a lot more hands-on, and that kind of opened my eyes to an operations role and the team environment that I wasn’t getting in a design role.”

Through these experiences, Montoya said she knew she wanted to make an immediate impact, which led her to where she now finds herself at District Five as a construction program manager. In her role, Montoya oversees project budgets, schedules, and performance of consultant and Department teams and helps resolve any project issues that arise.

“My job is to make sure District Five delivers its construction program on time, on budget, safely, and at the highest quality,” Montoya said. “In operations, you’re solving issues and creating an impact every day.”

Montoya’s commitment to maintaining strong relationships with project engineers, stakeholders, and contractors allows her to build trust and confidence that the teams are delivering the projects that Central Florida’s travelers depend on.

“With Sand Lake Road and the I-4 projects, we have the right team that I can rely on, and that I know can get us where we need to be,” Montoya said.

Montoya draws on her past experience on projects such as the Wekiva Parkway extension and the NASA Causeway Bridge, the latter of which she worked as a project manager. These experiences, she said, have helped her see the progress the Department has made and provided insight into challenges it may face in the future.

“One thing we’re paying more attention to is how we can deliver projects with the resources we have,” Montoya said. “We’re being challenged as an industry because Florida has become a big deal.”

As construction activities are constantly evolving throughout the region, Montoya’s advice to those looking to join the industry is to have a strong mental approach and take the time to learn as much as possible.

“When you enter a new industry, you don’t necessarily need to have the skills — those you can learn — but the one thing that is key is having the right attitude,” Montoya said. “That will take you wherever you want to go.”

When she’s not working on a project, Montoya says she enjoys reading, walking with her dogs, and spending time with family.

From beaches and theme parks to natural springs and historic landmarks, Florida attracts visitors year-round. However, summer is one of the busiest travel seasons in the state, and with it comes special considerations.

Daily temperature highs reach the upper 80s or well into the 90s, and it often feels even hotter due to high humidity. Now consider this: The temperature inside a vehicle can rise 20 degrees in as little as 10 minutes — and it continues to increase as more time passes. This puts children, vulnerable adults, and pets at risk for heatstroke if they are left in a vehicle. Always look before you lock your doors and don’t leave anyone in a vehicle, even for a quick errand.

The summer heat also makes under-inflated tires more susceptible to overheating, so check your tires often and keep them at the recommended pressure. Make it a habit to check your tire tread, too. Florida summers are known for rain, which can make the roadways slick. Without proper tread depth your tire traction decreases, and the time and distance it takes to brake increases. If you’re driving in the rain, turn on your headlights and windshield wipers. If you cannot see well, find a place to safely pull over until the rain clears. Monitor live roadway conditions at FL511.com.

Summer is no exception when it comes to safety! Always buckle up, follow the speed limit, and drive sober. Commit to driving distraction-free and keep up with your vehicle’s maintenance schedule.

Everyone deserves to return home safely from their adventures. Help make our roads safer by driving with care. For more safe summer travel tips, click here.