(SORRENTO, FL) -- Crews building part of the Wekiva Parkway in Lake County are scheduled to begin driving bridge piles near State Road 46 east of Round Lake Road on Tuesday, June 21, 2016. The work will be performed during the day and is expected to take several weeks.

The contractor, GLF Construction Corporation, will start driving bridge piles at SR 46, and then head south of the railroad crossing to Coronado-Somerset Drive. While steps will be taken to minimize the impact of construction to the surrounding community, nearby residents can expect some level of noise throughout the course of this work.

Bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances could delay or prolong work. Motorists are urged to use caution in the construction area for their safety and that of the work crews.

The Central Florida Expressway Authority began construction May 2, 2016 on Wekiva Parkway Section 2C. This $49.48 million section stretches from the Lake County-Orange County line to a planned loop interchange at SR 46 east of Round Lake Road.

This project is among five parkway sections being built by CFX, totaling 10 miles and more than $270 million in construction costs. Once completed, the 25-mile parkway will complete Central Florida’s beltway, while helping to protect the natural resources surrounding the Wekiva River.

(APOPKA, FL) – Beginning Monday, June 20, 2016, crews will intermittently close Kelly Park Road between Round Lake Road and Plymouth Sorrento Road as part of building the Wekiva Parkway (State Road 429). The closures, scheduled from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., will allow crews to set bridge beams.

The closures and detour will last for periods of up to four hours at a time. This activity is expected to continue through July 15, 2016.

Flaggers will direct traffic and electronic message boards are posted to alert drivers. Bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances could delay or prolong work. Motorists are urged to use caution in the construction area for their safety and that of the work crews.

This work is part of the Central Florida Expressway Authority’s $46.6 million project to build the Wekiva Parkway from Ponkan Road to a planned interchange at Kelly Park Road. Work began August 3, 2015. This project is among five parkway sections being built by CFX, totaling 10 miles and more than $270 million in construction costs. Once completed, the 25-mile parkway will complete Central Florida’s beltway, while helping to protect the natural resources surrounding the Wekiva River.

Lake County - The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is holding an access management public hearing regarding the Wekiva Parkway (State Road (SR) 429) Sections 3A, 3B and 5. These improvements are funded for construction to begin in 2017.

Section 3A will widen one mile of State Road (SR) 46, and other non-toll road improvements, from east of Vista View Lane to east Round Lake Road. Section 3B will make widening and other improvements to SR 46 and US 441, including building a flyover interchange in that location in Mount Dora. Section 5 is also a non-toll road improvement that will relocate County Road (CR) 46A out of the Seminole State Forest, thereby improving habitat connectivity and reducing the risk of conflicts between vehicles and wildlife. CR 46A will be realigned 2.5 miles from north of Arundel Way to connect to SR 429 east of Camp Challenge Road. Work will include roadway widening, medians and turn lanes, sidewalks, drainage, lighting, sign and pavement markings, utilities and other roadway features on all three sections.

The public hearing will be held Tuesday, July 12, 2016, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Mount Dora Community Building, 520 N. Baker Street, Mount Dora, Florida 32757. The meeting begins with an open house at 5:30 p.m., where participants may review project information and discuss the project with staff. There will be a brief presentation at 6:30 p.m., after which participants may provide comments to all present. The hearing ends at 7:30 p.m. Staff members will be available to discuss the project and answer questions before and after the presentation. Participants may also provide comments directly to a court reporter at any time during the hearing. Written comments can be submitted at the hearing, by mail to Mary Brooks, Public Involvement Coordinator, 2431 Aloma Avenue, Suite 231, Winter Park, Florida 32792, or by e-mail to info@wekivaparkway.com. Written comments must be postmarked no later than Tuesday, July 26, 2016, the end of the 10-day comment period. All comments, written and oral, received by that date will become part of the project’s public record.

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. Persons wishing to express their concerns relative to FDOT compliance with Title VI may do so by contacting Jennifer Smith, FDOT District Five Title VI Coordinator by phone at (386) 943-5367, or via email at Jennifer.Smith2@dot.state.fl.us.

Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or people who require translation services (free of charge), should contact: Mary Brooks, 407-694-5505 or via e-mail at info@wekivaparkway.com at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact us using the Florida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771 (TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice).

FDOT reminds drivers to slow down in construction zones; the life you save might be your own.

(APOPKA, FL) – Crews are scheduled to temporarily close lanes on the Connector Road to State Road 429 (Daniel Webster Western Beltway) near US 441 the nights of Wednesday, June 8, 2016 – Thursday, June 9, 2016. The lane closures from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. will allow crews to restripe and adjust the lanes on southbound SR 429.

The adjustment will result in the Connector Road eastbound, coming from US 441, having one through lane and one right turn lane onto SR 429. Westbound vehicles on the Connector Road turning left onto SR 429 southbound will have a dedicated lane and no longer will have to merge. During the night work to make the adjustments, traffic still will be able to make all of the movements at the interchange.

Bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances could delay or prolong work. Motorists are urged to use caution in the construction area for their safety and that of the work crews.

This work is part of the Central Florida Expressway Authority’s $56 million project to build the Wekiva Parkway from where SR 429 currently ends at the Connector Road to just north of Ponkan Road. Once completed, the 25-mile parkway will complete Central Florida’s beltway, while helping to protect the natural resources surrounding the Wekiva River.

(APOPKA, FL) – Crews are scheduled to temporarily close lanes on the Connector Road to State Road 429 (Daniel Webster Western Beltway) near US 441 the nights of Monday, June 6, 2016 – Wednesday, June 8, 2016. The lane closures from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. will allow crews to restripe and adjust the lanes on southbound SR 429.

The adjustment will result in the Connector Road eastbound, coming from US 441, having one through lane and one right turn lane onto SR 429. Westbound vehicles on the Connector Road turning left onto SR 429 southbound will have a dedicated lane and no longer will have to merge. During the night work to make the adjustments, traffic still will be able to make all of the movements at the interchange.

Bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances could delay or prolong work. Motorists are urged to use caution in the construction area for their safety and that of the work crews.

This work is part of the Central Florida Expressway Authority’s $56 million project to build the Wekiva Parkway from where the SR 429 currently ends at the Connector Road to just north of Ponkan Road. Once completed, the 25-mile parkway will complete Central Florida’s beltway, while helping to protect the natural resources surrounding the Wekiva River.

The Central Florida Expressway Authority opened bids May 18, 2016 from contractors hoping to work on Wekiva Parkway Section 2A (429-205). Superior Construction was the apparent low bidder at $38.65 million to build the section from east of the systems interchange extending east to FDOT's Section 4A at County Road 435. Work is scheduled to begin in August.

Crews working on CFX Section 2C by May 16, 2016 had excavated 108 gopher tortoise burrows and removed 48 tortoises. The animals are being taken to a state licensed recipient site in Sumter County. There are 139 burrows to be cleared on this 2-mile section from the Orange-Lake County Line to SR 46 east of Round Lake Road. The gopher tortoise relocation is expected to finish by the end of this week.

For photos and video of this operation, visit the project Facebook page here.

Crews working for the Central Florida Expressway Authority on Monday, May 2, 2016 are scheduled to begin work on Wekiva Parkway Section 2C. This section extends north from the systems interchange and the Orange-Lake County line to State Road 46 just east of Round Lake Road. GLF Construction will build the $49.48 million project under the supervision of Jacobs Engineering, the construction, engineering and inspection firm for CFX. The project is scheduled to be open to traffic in January of 2018. 

SANFORD _ Some 147 people signed in at the Florida Department of Transportation's March 29 preliminary design update meeting on Wekiva Parkway Section 8. Among those attending the meeting at the Lakeside United Methodist Church in Sanford were Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine, Acting Public Works Director Jean Jreij, Assistant County Engineer Shad Smith, and Bill Wharton and Tony Matthews of Seminole County Planning.  

The Florida Department of Transportation on March 21, 2016 advertised for bids from design firms for Wekiva Parkway Section 7B. This  last Wekiva Parkway section to begin design will involve non-tolled road improvements along State Road 46 from west of Center Road to west of Interstate 4. Bids are due April 4, 2016. Design is slated to begin in September of 2016. 

The Central Florida Expressway Authority on March 28, 2016 advertised for bids from contractors for Wekiva Parkway Section 2A (429-205). The fifth and final section of the parkway for CFX will parallel Haas Road and extend from east of Plymouth Sorrento Road to just east of County Road 435 (Mount Plymouth Road). The section will connect with Section 2B, the systems interchange, on the west and FDOT Section 4A, which is open to traffic, on the east. Bids are due and will be opened on May 18, 2016. 

Seminole County – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is holding a public information meeting about the Wekiva Parkway Section 8 design-build project in Seminole County. The public meeting is being held to review the latest preliminary design.   

The Section 8 design-build project is funded for construction in 2019. The project consists of designing and building 2.63 miles of limited access toll road from Orange Boulevard to east of Rinehart Road. The project includes a Wekiva Parkway interchange connecting to Interstate 4 and State Road 417, completing the beltway around Central Florida.

The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 29, 2016 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Lakeside Fellowship United Methodist Church located at 305 S. Orange Boulevard in Sanford. The meeting is an informal open house where plans are available for review and project staff is available to address questions.

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status.  Persons wishing to express their concerns relative to FDOT compliance with Title VI may do so by contacting Jennifer Smith, FDOT District Five Title VI Coordinator by phone at (386) 943-5367, or via email at Jennifer.Smith2@dot.state.fl.us.

Persons who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services, free of charge, should contact: Ms. Mary Brooks, Quest Corporation of America, by writing to her at 2431 Aloma Avenue, Suite 231, Winter Park, FL 32792, or by calling (407) 694-5505 or contacting her via e-mail at info@wekivaparkway.com at least seven days prior to the meeting. 

If you have any questions, please contact Steve Olson, FDOT Public Information Manager at steve.olson@dot.state.fl.us, or by telephone at (386) 943-5479. You may also contact Public Information Officer Mary Brooks at info@wekivaparkway.com, or by telephone at (407) 694-5505. For more information visit the project website at www.wekivaparkway.com. 

The Central Florida Expressway Authority Board on March 10, 2016 approved the bid from GLF Construction to build Wekiva Parkway Section 2C.  The contractor submitted a bid of $49.48 million to build the section from northwest of the systems interchange, across the Orange-Lake County Line up to State Road 46 just east of Round Lake Road. Construction is scheduled to begin in May of 2016. 

Approximately 34,300 vehicles traveled Wekiva Parkway Sections 4A and 4B in the month of February 2016 - an average of 1,200 vehicles per day, according to Florida's Turnpike Enterprise traffic statistics. February was the first full month of traffic on this first section of the parkway, which opened Jan. 20, 2016.

Sections 4A and 4B stretch 3.14 miles from County Road 435 (Mount Plymouth Road) north of Haas Road in Orange County to State Road 46 east of Camp Challenge Road in Lake County.

APOPKA _ The Central Florida Expressway Authority as of February 26, 2016 had excavated and relocated more than 90 gopher tortoises to a state licensed recipient site; crews are working their way through checking 237 burrows for the protected keystone species. Clearing and demolition also continue for the systems interchange to be located at Ondich Road and Plymouth Sorrento Road. Work began January 4, 2016.

APOPKA, FL _ Beginning Monday, February 29, 2016 crews are scheduled to intermittently stop traffic on Ponkan Road just west of Plymouth Sorrento Road as part of building the Wekiva Parkway (State Road 429).  An off-duty officer will periodically hold up traffic between 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. to allow a large number of trucks hauling dirt to cross the roadway. This operation will run through Wednesday, March 2, 2016.

Electronic message boards will be posted to alert drivers. Bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances could delay or prolong work. Motorists are urged to use caution in the construction area for their safety and that of the work crews.

This work is part of the Central Florida Expressway’s $56 million project to build the Wekiva Parkway from where SR 429 ends near US 441 to Ponkan Road. Once completed, the 25-mile parkway will complete Central Florida’s beltway, while helping to protect the natural resources surrounding the Wekiva River. 

The Florida Department of Transportation has posted the draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for review at the following link:

http://www.fdot.gov/cc-admin/Future_Projects/Future_Projects.shtml

(APOPKA, FL) - Beginning Wednesday, February 24, 2016 crews are scheduled to intermittently stop traffic on Ponkan Road just west of Plymouth Sorrento Road as part of building the Wekiva Parkway (State Road 429).  An off-duty officer will periodically hold up traffic between 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. to allow a large number of trucks hauling dirt to cross the roadway. This operation will run through Friday, February 26, 2016.

Electronic message boards will be posted to alert drivers. Bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances could delay or prolong work. Motorists are urged to use caution in the construction area for their safety and that of the work crews.

This work is part of the Central Florida Expressway’s $56 million project to build the Wekiva Parkway from where SR 429 ends near US 441 to Ponkan Road. Once completed, the 25-mile parkway will complete Central Florida’s beltway, while helping to protect the natural resources surrounding the Wekiva River. 

Deland _ About 280 transportation and other professionals attended the Florida Department of Transportation hosted an Industry Forum for its portion of the Wekiva Parkway. The forum provided scope and schedule information to those firms interested in participating in building the Department’s parkway sections in Lake and Seminole Counties. There also was a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) presentation and an overall project Q&A.

To view the Forum presentation and exhibits, click here.

SORRENTO, FL – The Florida Department of Transportation opened the first section of the long-awaited Wekiva Parkway (State Road 429) at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, January 20, 2016. Sections 4A and 4B extend from County Road 435 (Mount Plymouth Road) near Haas Road in Orange County to State Road 46 east of Camp Challenge Road in Lake County.

The toll is $0.75 for those with E-PASS or SunPASS. Those without a transponder will pay the toll via the Toll by Plate program. That cost is $1.00, plus $2.50 per month in administrative fees.

The $1.6 billion Wekiva Parkway will complete Central Florida’s beltway, while helping to protect the natural resources surrounding the Wekiva River. Work on this first 3.14-mile parkway stretch began in February 2013, with a construction cost of $25.48 million.

ADDITIONAL PROJECT DETAILS: The 25-mile Wekiva Parkway is a collaboration between the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise and the Central Florida Expressway Authority. The parkway will feature all electronic tolling to keep traffic moving and for the greatest customer convenience. The Wekiva Parkway will provide travel alternatives, enhance safety and relieve US 441 and other area roads of traffic congestion. Non-tolled, one-lane service roads for local trips will parallel the parkway in portions of Lake County and Seminole County.

Authorized by the 2004 Wekiva Parkway & Protection Act, parkway development has included conserving more than 3,400 acres of land. The parkway will include extensive wildlife bridges, will be largely elevated and will relocate a small portion of County Road 46A out of the Seminole State Forest to reduce conflicts between vehicles and wildlife. The parkway will include a 10-mile, multi-use trail along portions primarily in Lake and Seminole Counties.

SECTION 4A & 4B FACT SHEET

SECTION OVERVIEW: The Section 4A and 4B design-build projects form 3.14 miles of expressway from County Road 435 (Mount Plymouth Road), north of Haas Road, to State Road 46 east of Camp Challenge Road. The FDOT started first on this four-lane section of parkway because all of the property needed had been acquired. 

Project Schedule:

Design-Build Start:                  November 2012

Construction Start:                  February 18, 2013

Project Completion:                January 20, 2016

Construction Cost: $25.48 million

Project Description: This expressway is the first in Central Florida to feature all electronic tolling for the greatest customer convenience. The section includes a partial interchange at SR 46, four bridges and a temporary ramp at CR 435. This temporary connection will be removed once the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) builds the adjacent Section 2A.

Multi-use Trail: A future trail will parallel Section 4 and connect to the planned Lake-Wekiva Trail and an extension of the West Orange Trail. Trail construction will begin in 2017.

Environmental Considerations:

Conservation - Section 4 lies on the 1,600-acre, former Neighborhood Lakes property, one of several large parcels purchased for conservation as mandated by the 2004 Wekiva Parkway & Protection Act. 

Wildlife Protections - Crews in January 2013 relocated 107 gopher tortoises to a state-licensed recipient site. Other gopher tortoises also since have been relocated for protection. A wildlife biologist oversaw staff training and the protection of burrowing owls and other animals during construction. Wildlife fencing measures 10 feet tall with two feet below ground to discourage digging onto the corridor. A floodplain bridge provides safe wildlife passage between habitats during dry periods. Three (3) breaks in the fence called wildlife jump-outs allow animals who wander onto the corridor to safely return to their habitat. Ten (10) bat houses along the project each provide housing for up to 1,200 bats. 

Construction Stats:

Bridge Piles:         126 (measuring 11,748 linear feet – or 2.22 miles)

Asphalt:                5,084 tons (or 10.16 million pounds)

Fill Dirt:                 410,000 cubic yards 

For more information, contact:             Mary Brooks, Public Information Officer

                                                               407-694-5505, Info@wekivaparkway.com

     www.wekivaparkway.com