I-4 Ultimate
 

January 2018

 
IN THIS UPDATE
* Nightly closures of S.R. 436 scheduled in February
* Drilled Shaft: Building a Concrete Column Underground
* Move Over Month Reminds Motorists of Need to Protect Emergency Workers
* Spotlight Employee: Joe Morffi
 
 
 

Nightly closures of S.R. 436 scheduled in February

 

With construction work ramping up at the Interstate 4 (I-4) and State Road (S.R.) 436 interchange, motorists should expect additional nighttime closures in the Altamonte Springs area.

In late February until early March, a series of nighttime double lane closures and full closures on S.R. 436 will give construction crews an opportunity to remove old sign trusses extending over the roadway and to install new structures. Dates of scheduled closures are subject to change due to construction progress, roadway conditions or inclement weather. Please check i4ultimate.com/alertsmap for the most up-to-date information.

  • Feb. 18 – 23, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. — Nightly double lane closure on eastbound and westbound S.R. 436 between Westmonte Drive and Frances Drive.
  • Feb. 21 – 23, 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. — Nightly full closure of S.R. 436 between Westmonte Drive and Frances Drive.
  • Feb. 25 – March 2, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. — Nightly double lane closure on eastbound and westbound S.R. 436 between Festival Drive and Cranes Roost Boulevard.
  • Feb. 28 – March 2, 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. — Nightly full closure of S.R. 436 between Festival Drive and Cranes Roost Boulevard.

During the full nightly closures of S.R. 436, detour routes will be marked at various points. View or download detour maps of: Nightly full closure of S.R. 436 between Westmonte Drive and Frances Drive on Feb. 21–23; or Nightly full closure of S.R. 436 between Festival Drive and Cranes Roost Boulevard on Feb. 28–March 2.

Modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving through a work zone.

 
 
 
 

Drilled Shaft: Building a Concrete Column Underground

 

When the I-4 Ultimate team needs to build a strong foundation for a bridge or ramp, crew members usually bring in tall cranes to drive piles deep into the ground.

Sometimes, however, the I-4 project requires building deep foundations in tight spaces, where there may not be enough room for a crane to operate or enough ground to hold a dozen or more piles.

When that happens, the team turns to another option known as a drilled shaft. It’s a complicated process and requires high-tech monitoring. However, in simplest terms, it means drilling a deep, wide hole (often 8 feet across) and filling it with concrete. Essentially, the team constructs a strong concrete pillar underground.

A single, deep shaft filled with reinforced concrete can support the equivalent of 10 to 15 more widely spaced piles, said Shelley Gisclar, who is the Area 2 Coordination Engineer. The method also is much quieter and causes less vibration than driving several piles into the ground.

Workers must pump in a special substance called drilling fluid to help stabilize the sides of the hole and to keep it from collapsing during the operation. Once the drilling is complete, steel structures that look like circular cages are lowered into the shaft. Finally, concrete is pumped from the bottom of the hole so that it forces out the drilling fluid while the concrete fills up the empty shaft.

The circular steel cages serve several functions. The main purpose is to reinforce and strengthen the concrete. They also hold temperature gauges, monitoring devices and plastic tubing. The monitoring systems are used to check the underground structure by helping ensure that there are no voids, or empty spaces, within the concrete. Sensors also monitor the temperature of the concrete as it cures.

Extreme temperature differences within the drilled shaft can cause fissures that can severely weaken the concrete pillar. If temperatures rise too high, team members can pour cold water down the tubes attached to the circular cages to cool the curing concrete.

 
 
 
 

Move Over Month Reminds Motorists of Need to Protect Emergency Workers

 

Move Over, Florida. It’s the law.

That’s the reminder that Florida wants to send all drivers about the state’s Move Over law designed to keep emergency and service workers safe. In 2017, there were 212 crashes that occurred and almost 17,000 citations issued for failure to move over in Florida, according to preliminary data.

“The Move Over Law protects those who work on the side of the roadway each day and ensures that they make it home safely to their families,” said Terry L. Rhodes, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). “Law enforcement, first responders, service and utility vehicles provide critical services to motorists in one of the most dangerous work environments. It is imperative that motorists abide by the law and move over or slow down for these brave professionals so that they can do their job and Arrive Alive.”

State law requires vehicles to move over a lane for law enforcement or emergency vehicles, sanitation vehicles, utility service vehicles, Road Rangers or wreckers. If a driver cannot move over, they must slow to 20 mph below the posted speed limit.

“We are committed to improving public awareness of highway safety by educating all road users on sharing the road. We all need to do our part to keep our roadways safe and reduce crashes – Move Over and save a life,” said Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary Mike Dew.

The DHSMV reminds all drivers that to comply with the Move Over law while driving on a multi-lane roadway, they must:

  • Vacate the lane closest to the stationary emergency vehicle, sanitation vehicle, utility service vehicle or wrecker and always signal the intention to change lanes.
  • Slow down to a speed of 20 mph below the posted speed limit, if a driver cannot move over safely.
  • Be prepared to allow those who are attempting to move over into the next lane.

On a two-lane roadway, drivers must:

  • Slow down to a speed of 20 mph below the posted speed limit.
  • Travel at 5 mph, if the speed limit is 20 mph or less.

“Florida’s Move Over law was enacted to protect those trying to protect Florida’s motorists,” said Colonel Gene Spaulding, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “Abide by the Move Over law and help us protect our emergency personnel and their families.”

DHSMV and FHP are partnering with the Florida Police Chiefs Association, Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida Department of Transportation and AAA – The Auto Club Group to ensure all law enforcement, first responders, service and utility workers and Road Rangers are safe in 2018.

 
 
 
 

Spotlight Employee: Joe Morffi
Operations and Maintenance Manager


When Joe Morffi was recruited for the job of Operations and Maintenance Manager for the I-4 Ultimate project, his supervisor wanted to make sure he understood one thing: He would be part of the Super Bowl of highway construction projects.

Not only was the 21-mile, $2.3 billion project a huge undertaking, but the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) would be watched closely by motorists, residents, media and those in the industry. Morffi, however, didn’t flinch.

“I wanted to be back on a big project, which enticed me to come up here,” Morffi said. He had worked on a PPP project on Interstate 595 in South Florida. “I never thought about moving out of Miami, but Orlando is a good switch and it's a city that's growing.”

Morffi grew up in Miami, and after graduating from the University of Miami, he worked for the Florida Department of Transportation. With 11 years of experience on transportation projects, he felt prepared for the I-4 Ultimate job and was wise enough to know how his group fit into the construction effort.

As the Operations and Maintenance Manager, he makes sure there is a continual flow of traffic on the project. “It’s a massive effort,” he said. “We’re not the highlight, though. We’re not the ones doing the construction. We’re the ones in the background making sure that everything is maintained.”

The Regional Traffic Management Center helps in that process by monitoring live camera feeds, locating disabled vehicles and dispatching Road Rangers and Florida Highway Patrol. They also make sure that debris is cleared from roadways to keep traffic moving.

During hurricane season, Morffi coordinates efforts to make sure the state-approved hurricane emergency plan is followed.

Although maintaining the 21-mile project is difficult, Morffi enjoys his job. “I never have the same day twice and there’s never a dull moment.”

When he’s not working, he spends a lot of time with his daughter and wife. “We’re kind of a small family, so we rely a lot on each other,” he said.