FDOT Widens Turnpike

Tue February 21, 2012 - Southeast Edition
Brenda Ruggiero

The widening of Florida’s turnpike is currently progressing between Beulah Road and State Road 50 near milepost 272.

The overall $123.5 million project consists of widening SR 91 from four to eight lanes. In addition, a lane will be added in each direction on State Road 50, with capacity for future widening. The contract also calls for the replacement of the bridges at Winter Garden-Vineland Road, Avalon Road and State Road 50.

The interchange will reportedly be reconfigured to a diamond-style, replacing the current partial-loop interchange. Open road tolling (ORT) SunPass-only lanes also will be added, as well as noise abatement walls on department right-of-way for qualifying property owners adjacent to the turnpike.

This particular contract, for $85,000,000, was awarded to Lane Construction Corporation by the State of Florida Department of Transportation. Under the direction of Dyelan Phillips, work began in January 2009 and is scheduled for full completion in October 2012.

Phillips noted that the project consists of widening Mainline Turnpike from four lanes to eight lanes. In addition, it also includes adding one lane in each direction for one mile of State Road 50.

“A portion of this project involves reconstructing Florida Turnpike’s busiest interchange in Central Florida,” he said. “The new bridge at Winter Garden-Vineland will provide pedestrian sidewalks and the Avalon Road overpass bridge accommodates future widening, while the SR 50 overpass widening allows the widening of SR 50 in this area to be completed as part of this project.

It also includes the installation of noise abatement walls and two toll plazas that will be completely demolished and replaced.”

The project includes 581,306 cu. yds. (444,440 cu m) of embankment, 464,645 cu. yds. (355,246 cu m) of excavation, 104,340 tons (94,655 t) of asphalt, 43,442 linear ft. (13,241 m) of storm pipe (18 to 54 in.), 3,704 cu. yds. (2,831 cu m) of structural C1P concrete, and 235,214 sq. ft. (21,852 sq m) of precast sound barrier,

According to Phillips, the project is currently on schedule, and an early completion is anticipated, in spite of the challenge of record rainfalls encountered by crews in 2009.

Crews peaked at more than 150 people assigned to the job at one time. Major subcontractors include Welbro for toll plazas, APAC for asphalt pavement, Gerelco for lighting and signage, Traffic Control Devices for fiber and signalization, and JVD Construction for barrier wall, curb and sidewalk.

Brenda Ruggiero

Brenda Ruggiero has written for CEG for over 20 years. She lives near the town of Accident in far western Maryland. Her favorite assignments so far involved interviews with Survivor’s Boston Rob and hot dog eating champion Joey Chestnut. Both were involved in construction at one time.

Brenda holds a BA in Mass Communication with a writing focus from Frostburg State University and minors in Public Relations and Political Science. She works full time as a staff writer for a weekly newspaper, the Garrett County Republican. She enjoys feature writing the most, which gives her the opportunity to talk to people and share their stories.

Brenda and her middle school sweetheart, Reuben, have been married for over 34 years and have three grown children and four cats.

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