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.