i-4 Ultimate
 

October 2019

 
IN THIS UPDATE
* Eastbound I-4 Exit Ramp to Kirkman Road Shifted into Permanent Configuration
* WB I-4 Access Ramp From Par St. Shifting To Temporary Configuration
* Learn About Pedestrian and Bicyclist Features on I-4 with New Downloadable Booklet
* Employee Spotlight: Kim Badell
 
 
 

Eastbound I-4 Exit Ramp to Kirkman Road Shifted into Permanent Configuration

 

The I-4 Ultimate Improvement Project achieved a major milestone in October.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) shifted the eastbound Interstate 4 (I-4) exit ramp (Exit 75B) to northbound Kirkman Road (State Road 435) into its permanent configuration on October 29.

A new eastbound I-4 exit ramp also opened as part of this shift, providing motorists with new access to southbound Kirkman Road and the International Drive area.

The left-hand eastbound I-4 exit ramp to Grand National Drive, which was used as a temporary ramp to access Kirkman Road, closed and is scheduled to reopen upon project completion as an exit ramp for the eastbound I-4 express lanes. Motorists will instead use the new exit on the right to travel to northbound Kirkman Road.

This shift marks a significant milestone for the I-4 Ultimate project. View or download a handout detailing the shift here, and view the interchange improvement handout for all the changes planned for the Kirkman Road interchange.

 
 
 
 

WB I-4 Access Ramp From Par St. Shifting To Temporary Configuration

 

Keep an eye out for a new change happening as early as Tuesday, November 5, at the Par Street interchange.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is temporarily shifting the westbound Interstate 4 (I-4) entrance from Par Street. When the shift occurs, the existing ramp to I-4 from the westbound access road between Par Street and Princeton Street will close. Motorist will instead travel from the Par Street entrance ramp through a stoplight at the Princeton Street interchange and continue approximately half a mile before joining I-4.

The westbound I-4 entrance ramp from Par Street and the westbound I-4 exit ramp to Princeton Street also will close overnight to accommodate the shift. Visit fdot.tips/2WtuMUK to view a handout detailing the shift and associated closures.

Motorists driving through the area also can tune into AM 1630 for more information about the shift and closures.

 
 
 
 

Learn About Pedestrian and Bicyclist Features on I-4 with New Downloadable Booklet

 

Since its inception, the main priority of the I-4 Ultimate Improvement Project has been to improve safety and ease of mobility along the 21-mile stretch. To this end, the project continues to implement safety features that will benefit pedestrians and bicyclists, in addition to improving drivers’s commutes.

To showcase those features, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) developed the “Pedestrian & Bicyclist Features” booklet, which offers an overview of general improvements, including new pedestrian bridges at Kirkman Road (State Road 435), Maitland Boulevard (State Road 414), and Anderson Street, and a new pedestrian tunnel at State Road 436.

The addition and reconstruction of sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and bicycle lanes, among other improvements, aims to increase safety, functionality, mobility, and the aesthetic experience of non-motorized traffic on the roads that cross or are near Interstate 4 (I-4).

The information in the booklet also includes the latest aerial photographs of the construction sites, architectural renderings of select features that illustrate aesthetic and functional design upon completion, and quick-reference maps that indicate the location and accessibility of the new pedestrian and bicyclist features.

To download or view the booklet, visit i4ultimate.com/ped-bike/.

 
 
 
 

Employee Spotlight: Kim Badell
Roadway Field Engineer


While some motorists may not find many new and interesting sides to the work they see taking place every day on Interstate 4 (I-4) when driving to work, school, stores, or other activities, Kim Badell finds the work not only intriguing, but invigorating.

Far from routine, working on the I-4 Ultimate Improvement Project provided exactly the opportunity to learn and succeed to draw her from her home in Venezuela, where she grew up and earned a degree in civil engineering. “My favorite part of the project is I get to work with all sorts of people with all kinds and levels of experience,” said Badell, who is a Roadway Field Engineer in Area 2, which spans from Colonial Drive (State Road 50) to Michigan Street. She is involved in work related to side streets for the south segment of the project.

She believes that every person on the team has something to teach. “It gives me the opportunity to learn new and exciting things about the construction field, professional paths, and personal skills every day from everyone – the foreman, my superintendents, managers, and other field engineers,” Badell said. “I feel I have learned a lot, and that’s something that will go with me wherever I go.”

Badell, who is part of SGL – the construction joint venture of Skanska, Granite, and Lane for I-4 Ultimate – remains fascinated by all the planning that goes into keeping the huge I-4 Ultimate project moving forward. Each day brings new chances to solve problems and keep going. “I drive along my designated work zones to ensure everything goes according to the plan, and I check the plans sheets and schedule for the upcoming work, always making sure there are no risks or obstacles, and that my team is safe.”

Although she must focus on many small details in her daily work, she keeps the bigger picture in mind, too. “I feel extremely grateful to be part of this amazing project and help build something this big that so many people depend on. How many professionals in other industries can point at a brand-new interstate highway, and say, ‘I helped build that.’ I want to look back a few years from now and proudly say, ‘I helped to build that I-4 Ultimate.’”

One of those she hopes also will be proud is her young son, who takes up most of her time away from the job. “My favorite thing to do outside of work is to spend time with my little boy. I have a 5-year-old boy, happy and full of energy. We get to play in the park, watch movies, and play with dinosaurs. He is obsessed with them.”