The Florida Department of Transportation District 5 (FDOT) has awarded a contract to Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) to prepare preliminary construction plans, final right-of-way maps and final permits for the reconstruction of a 2.5-mile segment of I-4.
The project is one segment of an overall $2-billion reconstruction program for I-4 through Orange (the Orlando area) and Seminole counties. The reconstruction involves replacing the existing six-lane divided highway with a new six-lane divided facility with two additional special use lanes in each direction.
The PB team is also working on the segment involving reconstruction of the I-4/Maitland Boulevard interchange near the Orange and Seminole County line. This new project includes reconstruction of a tight urban interchange to a single point urban interchange at the SR 436 (Semoran Boulevard) and I-4 interchange. The interchange will be constructed in the same place as the existing SR 436 structure over I-4. There are currently nine lanes of traffic across this existing structure, which provides all through and turning movements within the interchange.
One of the proposed alternatives for construction of the replacement bridge is to design the new structure deck so that it can be constructed in two sections, parallel and adjacent to the existing bridge, while not disturbing the existing traffic operations. The next phase is to jack and skid the new structure into its final position.
Other major elements of the reconstruction involve rebuilding an existing local road overpass (Central Parkway over I-4) to a partial single-point interchange with slip ramps that will provide access to the I-4 special use lanes. Three pairs of slip ramps will also be designed for access between the special use lanes and general use lanes through this section of I-4. A new single bridge structure for I-4 will be placed over the Crane Roost Lake area, improving the floodplain and storage area for this highly developed and environmentally sensitive area.
The overall construction budget will be between $80-$100 million.
