Featured Construction Project: I-4 Ultimate Improvement Project

Tips & Advice

As we write this, there are thousands of impressive, awe-inspiring construction projects in the works. From time to time on the Dirt Blog, we'll be featuring projects we think are worth sharing with our readers. The first project we'd like to feature here is the I-4 Ultimate Improvement Project. We spoke with David Parks, the I-4 Ultimate Public Information Officer to learn more about this major project expected to dramatically improve transportation in Central Florida. Mr. Parks is one of the many people who relocated to Orlando to be a part of the project, which is one of enormous scope.

The I-4 Ultimate Improvement Project will expand and improve I-4 from west of Kirkman Road in Orange County to east of State Road 434 in Seminole County. This project aims to improve both the design of I-4 and its functionality. It will affect and improve access to area attractions, access to downtown Orlando, and access to the Ivanhoe and Altamonte areas. This is a six-year long, $2.4 billion project that affects 21 miles. The contract for this project was signed in September 2014, design officially began in October 2014, and construction, operations, and maintenance officially commenced in February 2015.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has entered into a contract with I-4 Mobility Partners to make this project come to fruition. I-4 Mobility Partners (I4MP), a joint venture between John Laing and Skanska, is the Concessionaire who has contracted with Skanska Granite and Lane (SGL Constructors), a joint venture, to design and construct the project. SGL has contracted with Infrastructure Corporation of America (ICA) for the operations and maintenance of the interstate during construction and with HDR and Jacobs for the design. Once the project is completed, I4MP will be responsible for the long term maintenance and operations .

When we spoke to Mr. Parks, he noted that it's rare for multiple organizations to get involved in a project like this. Because this project is such an impressive feat, however, he said that it made sense for the FDOT to team up with contractors and other professionals to help guarantee a high quality outcome.

“A Public Private Partnership (P3) was the best mechanism for FDOT to complete a project of this magnitude in this fairly quick timeframe. P3s bring together companies that can finance, design, construct and maintain a project such as this bringing high quality to infrastructure,” Mr. Parks noted.

In case you're wondering, below are some stats regarding materials used for this venture. Please keep in mind that these are estimates:

  • 74,200 linear feet of water and sewer line
  • 2-million tons of lime rock
  • 1.2 million tons of paving aggregate
  • 3.5-million square feet of panels to support earth works, also known MSE wall(s)
  • 387,000 linear feet of pipe
  • 92-million pounds of rebar
  • 67-million pounds of structural steel
  • 2.2-million square feet of decking (concrete)
  • 273,000 linear feet of pre-stress beams (concrete)
  • 27,000 linear feet of concrete pile
  • 617,000 cubic yards of ready-mix concrete
We asked Mr. Parks some questions about logistics and safety to get more insight into the inner-workings of the I-4 Ultimate Improvement Project. He noted that everyone involved, from designers to contractors to media professionals, has to go through comprehensive safety training. In terms of logistical concerns, Mr. Parks informed us that managing traffic flow is the project's biggest challenge. Hundreds of thousands of drivers travel on I-4 each day. To avoid traffic issues, I-4 lane closure only occurs during nighttime hours Monday through Friday. Approximately 60-70% of the work is being done during the day.

Here's a map that shows areas of I-4 that will benefit from this impressive redesign:

I-4 Ultimate Map

We would like to thank David Parks and the I-4 Ultimate Improvement Project as a whole for giving us the opportunity to feature their work on our blog. If you're involved in a project you would like us to feature here, please email us at bhanley(AT)eiffeltradingcompany(DOT)com. We'd love to hear more about what you're doing!

Note: The I-4 Mobility Partners are not affiliated with Eiffel Trading Company, and SGL Contractors have their own procurement department, which does not use eiffeltradingcompany.com.