i-4 Ultimate
 

December 2019

 
IN THIS UPDATE
* REMINDER: WB I-4 Exit to Colonial Drive Shifted to Temporary Configuration
* Traffic Shifts in Seminole County Mark Milestones on I-4 Ultimate Project
* ‘Tis the Season of Giving: I-4 Ultimate Spreads Holiday Cheer with Donations
* Greenwood Lakes Middle School Shows Appreciation
* Lithuanian Delegates Learn More about I-4 Ultimate Finances, Private Partnerships
 
 

All lane closures on Interstate 4 (I-4) over the winter holidays will be suspended between Tuesday, December 24, and Thursday, January 2, minimizing potential traffic delays for motorists during the holiday travel season.

 
 
 

REMINDER: WB I-4 Exit to Colonial Drive Shifted to Temporary Configuration

 

A significant change to the westbound Interstate 4 (I-4) exit ramp to Colonial Drive (State Road 50) occurred at the beginning of December.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) shifted the westbound I-4 exit ramp to Colonial Drive (Exit 84A) to a temporary left-hand exit.

The new left-hand exit ramp requires drivers to exit nearly three-quarters of a mile sooner after crossing over Princeton Street. The ramp places motorists at a signalized intersection at Ivanhoe Boulevard, where they cross over Ivanhoe Boulevard and follow Legion Place and Orange Avenue to Colonial Drive.

This temporary ramp configuration will be in place for up to one year as crews construct the permanent westbound I-4 exit ramp to Colonial Drive and the westbound I-4 travel lanes adjacent to Lake Concord.

For more information about the shift, including videos, photos, and renderings, visit https://i4ultimate.com/colonial/.

 
 
 
 

Update on Traffic Shifts in Seminole County

 

Two areas of Interstate 4 (I-4) shifted into their permanent configurations in December.

The westbound I-4 exit ramp to State Road (S.R.) 434 (Exit 94) shifted to its new, permanent configuration on December 20. The new ramp provides additional space for vehicles on the ramp, reducing backups onto I-4. The ramp ends at a new traffic signal, with two turn lanes onto eastbound and westbound S.R. 434. View or download a handout detailing the ramp shift here: https://fdot.tips/434ramp.

Also, on December 21, westbound I-4 lanes between Central Parkway and Wymore Road shifted into their permanent configuration. This shift relocates traffic onto nearly two miles of newly paved highway. View or download a handout detailing the shift here: https://fdot.tips/348XxZ1

Traffic shifts and new movements are planned in 2020 and through the end of the project. To see the most up-to-date configurations of the roadway and interchanges along the 21 miles of I-4 Ultimate, visit i4ultimate.com/construction-info/construction-map.

 
 
 
 

‘Tis the Season of Giving: I-4 Ultimate Spreads Holiday Cheer with Donations

 

The I-4 Ultimate team is not only improving roadways, but is also lending a hand to underprivileged students and their families.

From floor to ceiling, canned and boxed goods packed Killarney Elementary School’s food pantry, thanks to help from the I-4 Ultimate team.

The crew delivered thousands of individual items to the school on November 22 as part of its annual Season of Giving campaign. 

SGL Constructors – the joint venture of Skanska, Granite, and Lane – began collecting the items in early November to donate to Killarney Elementary. The school has more than 100 homeless students, and each Friday, those students are given food packages to take home to their families. However, due to the holiday weeks in November and December, the school’s food pantry can often run low.

Fortunately, the I-4 Ultimate team’s donation increased the food pantry’s inventory by 25 percent, giving Killarney Elementary the nonperishable supplies it needs to give to hungry kids and their families during the holidays.

This donation isn’t the only way the I-4 Ultimate team is giving back.

In early December, the crew kicked off its cold and flu remedies drive for the Orlando Union Rescue Mission. The team is collecting over-the-counter medications to help the homeless battle illness during the cold and flu season.

 
 
 
 

Greenwood Lakes Middle School Shows Appreciation

 

The I-4 Ultimate Project team conducts a variety of public education and outreach that goes beyond just notifying people about construction.

David Parks, I-4 Ultimate Public Communications Coordinator, gave the Greenwood Lakes Middle School legal studies class a presentation about public speaking and media relations in October.

Julie Bratton, forensic sciences and legal studies teacher, said her students enjoyed Parks’ visit and would love to have him or someone else from the I-4 Ultimate team visit again to supplement what they already are learning.

“His time and effort has enhanced the educational quality of our Introduction to Legal Studies Program,” Bratton said.

The students were so thankful, in fact, that they sent dozens of thank-you cards after the presentation.

“We thoroughly enjoyed his personable and in-depth presentation on public speaking and media relations, and we continue to refer to the information he shared with us in class,” she said. “Mr. Parks is truly an inspiration to our students.”

The I-4 Ultimate team always is available to share information about I-4 Ultimate with organizations, businesses, schools, and neighborhood associations. For more information or to request a speaker, visit i4ultimate.com/public-outreach-education/contact-us/.

 
 
 
 

Lithuanian Delegates Learn More about I-4 Ultimate Finances, Private Partnerships

 

Delegates from Lithuania visited Central Florida in November to learn more about I-4 Ultimate and the multifaceted approach to funding a large infrastructure project and attracting private partners to help construct it.

The eight visitors, focused on public procurement for infrastructure projects, traveled to the United States through the International Visitor Leadership Program, a professional exchange program of the U.S. Department of State.

This visit focused on planning, development, and implementation of the project, as well as the procurement process when working with private partners.

David Parks, Public Communications Coordinator for I-4 Ultimate, detailed all the planned improvements for the 15 interchanges along the 21 miles of Interstate 4 (I-4) being reconstructed, including quick facts about the project, artistic renderings, and the methods used to keep the public informed about construction activity.

Keith Brockman, P.E., who is the vice president of transportation infrastructure for RS&H, a national architecture, engineering, and consulting firm, then answered questions about funding and private partnerships.

After the meeting, Emily Bachman, project manager for the World Affairs Council of Central Florida, said that the delegates “raved” about the meeting and found the discussion and information helpful.