OCOEE, FL (December 31, 2008) — Florida’s Turnpike announces lane closures and work zone information for construction and maintenance projects in Central Florida beginning Sunday, January 4, 2009.

Florida’s Turnpike strives to maintain traffic flow in work zones; however, motorists may encounter heavier traffic near construction sites.  Motorists should drive with caution through the work zones, and adhere to posted detour signs and speed limits.  Speeding fines double in construction zones when workers are present.  All paving-related lane closures are dependent on weather conditions; rain or temperatures below 65 degrees may delay or cancel paving operations.

All regularly scheduled construction and maintenance-related lane closures and restrictions on Florida’s Turnpike-operated roads are suspended through 6 a.m., Monday, January 5, 2009, in anticipation of heavy traffic volumes.  Motorists should expect heavy congestion at the mainline toll plazas, especially on Sunday afternooon, and be prepared for sudden, intermittent stops, especially near the Leesburg (milepost 288), Three Lakes (milepost 236) and Lake Worth/Lantana (milepost 88) mainline toll plazas. 

OTHER PROJECTS

SUMTER COUNTY

ROADWAY RESURFACING PROJECT (MILEPOSTS 296-309)

• Watch for single-lane closures during the daytime as crews complete paving operations.
  • Paving operations resume southbound during daylight hours on January 5, 2009, starting at the interchange with Interstate 75.

  PROJECT DESCRIPTION:   This $13.5 million resurfacing project, which began March 3, includes milling and resurfacing the roadway, including drainage and guardrail improvements, is nearing completion.  For more information on the Sumter County resurfacing project, visit http://www.sumterconstruction.com/index.html

  Beachline West Expressway
  BEE LINE WEST
  WIDENING (Mileposts 4-8)

  • Be alert for single lane closures, 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday, January 5 through Friday, January 9.
    • Watch for intermittent lane closures on Orange Avenue, the CSX overpass, and on Landstreet Road.  Crews are working on the Beachline overpass bridge superstructure.

    PROJECT DESCRIPTION:  Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise is currently performing improvements to the Bee Line West Mainline Toll Plaza near Milepost 6.  These improvements include open road tolling and widening the roadway between the Turnpike and McCoy Road as part of a series of enhancements scheduled for construction over the next several years.The current project consists of the demolition and reconstruction of the existing mainline toll plaza with major capacity improvements and additional lanes. 

    Upon completion in the spring of 2009, the plaza will feature two SunPass-only express lanes in each direction, with the capacity to add an additional lane when the Beachline is widened to three lanes in each direction.  With the added open road tolling feature, SunPass customers will be able to travel at highway speed in the express lanes.

    Included in the toll plaza improvements is the construction of four mixed-use lanes to provide additional lanes for cash customers.

    In June 2008, a $49 million project began to widen the Beachline from the Turnpike (Milepost 4.3) to McCoy Road.  Improvements include widening the existing bridge structures at US 441, Landstreet Road, CSX Railroad, CSX Railroad Taft Yard, Orange Avenue and McCoy Road.  A new bridge will also be constructed for the access ramp over the CSX Railroad.

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    ORANGE COUNTY

    TURNPIKE WIDENING PROJECT—INTERSTATE 4 TO GOTHA ROAD (MILEPOSTS 259-265)

    • Night work resumes Monday, January 5.
    • Expect single lane closures north and south bound between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., along with pacing operations between the hours of mightnight and 5 a.m.  This night work is for the demolition and removal of the old SR 50 connector bridge.
    • Motorist should be alert for construction vehicles entering and exiting traffic at several locations along the project.
    • Be aware of the single-laning on the S.R. 50 connector road and the merging traffic at the on- and off-ramps.
    • Be alert for lane shifts, both north- and southbound through the project limits, especially those near the SR 408 ramp to northbound Turnpike.

    PROJECT DESCRIPTION:  This $128.6 million project adds two lanes in each direction between Interstate 4 and the SR 408 Interchange.  Construction includes widening the existing bridges over Interstate 4 and Apopka-Vineland Road, and replacing the Kirkman Road and Gotha Road bridges over the Turnpike.  Additionally, improvements will be made at the Interstate 4 and SR 408 (East-West Expressway) interchanges.  This project is scheduled to be complete in August 2010.  Click here for a map of soundwall installation locations:  http://floridasturnpike.com/pdfs/I-4_Gotha_Noise%20Map.pdf

    TURNPIKE WIDENING PROJECT – SR. 408 TO NORTH OF BEULAH ROAD (MILEPOST 265-270)

    • Watch for construction vehicles entering and exiting traffic at locations along the project.
    • Be aware of the single laning on the State Road 50 Connector Rd. and the merging traffic at the on- and off-ramps.
    • Be alert for lane shifts in both directions on the Turnpike as well as the northbound ramps from SR 408.  

    PROJECT DESCRIPTION:  This $68.8 million project consists of widening of Florida’s turnpike (SR 91) from four to eight lanes and six to 12 lanes from milepost 266 to milepost 269 in Orange County.  The construction includes widening of the bridges over Beulah Rd. and reconstruction of the State Road 50 connector bridge over Florida’s Turnpike, resurfacing existing pavement, construction of storm water retention ponds, signing and marking, lighting, landscaping, sound barriers, ITS and utilities.  This project is expected to be complete in August 2010.

    TURNPIKE WIDENING PROJECT—BEULAH ROAD TO STATE ROAD 50 (MILEPOSTS 270-273)

    PROJECT DESCRIPTION:  This $123.5 million project consists of widening of Florida’s turnpike (SR 91) from four to eight lanes between Beulah Road and State Road 50 near milepost 272.  The project also includes adding an additional lane in each direction on State Road 50, with capacity for future widening as well.  The replacement of the bridges at Winter Garden-Vineland Road, Avalon Road and at State Road 50 is included.  The interchange will be reconfigured to a diamond style, replacing the current partial-loop interchange and includes open road tolling (ORT) SunPass-only lanes.  This project also includes the installation of noise abatement walls on Department right-of-way for qualifying property owners adjacent to the Turnpike.  This project will be complete in the summer of 2012.

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    OSCEOLA COUNTY

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    LAKE COUNTY

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    POLK COUNTY

    SUNPASS TOLL PLAZA CONVERSION PROJECT (Mileposts 0-18)

    • The outside lanes remain closed at all ramp plazas from Airport Rd. to Old Dixie Hwy, with the exception of South Florida Avenue and Lakeland Highlands Road.
    • Thermoplastic striping and delineator installation will continue next week at all ramp plazas.

     PROJECT DESCRIPTION:   Florida’s Turnpike began on March 10 a project to add SunPass-only lanes at the ramp toll plazas. Crews are completing final installation of sign panels and new SunPass-only lane equipment

    This $3.2 million project is scheduled for completion in February 2009.

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  • SEMINOLE COUNTY

    LAKE JESUP TOLL PLAZA RECONSTRUCTION (Milepost 47)

    • Overnight work resumes January 5, 2009.
    • Watch for overnight lane closures in both directions near the mainline toll plaza nightly from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

     
    PROJECT DESCRIPTION:  Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise has begun a project to convert the Lake Jesup mainline toll plaza to open road tolling.  This $40.5 million project consists of the demolition and reconstruction of the existing mainline toll plaza with major capacity improvements and additional lanes.

    CR 46A TOLL PLAZA MAINTENANCE (Milepost 52)

    • Cash customers will be diverted through the SunPass-only lanes at the CR 46A southbound exit between Monday, January 5 and Thursday, January 8 to accommodate maintenance activities.  Likewise, while work is proceeding in the SunPass-only lanes, all vehicles will be diverted through the cash lanes.  TOLLS ARE SUSPENDED THROUGH THE PLAZA FOR ALL CUSTOMERS ON THE FOLLOWING DAYS AND TIMES:
      • 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday, January 5
    • 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday, January 6
    • 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday, January 7
    • 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday, January 8

    PROJECT DESCRIPTION:  Maintenance crews will be pressure cleaning and painting the exterior of the CR 46A southbound ramp plaza at Milepost 52.   

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  • HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 

    ITS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

    • Expect a short-term single lane closure northbound between mileposts 43-44 on January 5.  Crews are installing a signpost for an overhead message board.
    • Be alert for a rolling traffic  pacing operation, both north- and southbound  beginning at mighnight, January 6.  Crews are hanging an overhead sign structure. 

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