Lake Mary and Sanford - The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), City of Lake Mary ,and Seminole County will host an open house on March 8 to discuss an innovative form of traffic management the mid-block U-turn to be built at the Rinehart Road and County Road (C.R.) 46A intersection. The public meeting will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Orlando Marriott Lake Mary, located at 1501 International Parkway.

New to Central Florida, the mid-block U-turn intersection will help make traffic flow more smoothly and safely at the intersection. Motorists at the busy intersection will no longer need to make left turns across oncoming traffic. It also will eliminate the left-hand turning arrow on a traffic signal. Instead, motorists will use signalized U-turns on Rinehart Road to head in their desired direction.

The mid-block U-turn will help reduce the time required to go through the intersection, improve pedestrian safety, and limit the impact of construction as well as the effect on the visibility of property around the intersection. Improvements to this intersection are an interim project of FDOT's I-4 Beyond the Ultimate project.

Maps, drawings and other pertinent information will be available for public review. The open house format means participants can visit any time between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. FDOT staff and others associated with the project will be available to discuss the project and answer questions. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions regarding the construction. There will not be a formal presentation.

Participants may provide public comments directly to public communication staff at any time during the meeting. Written comments from all interested parties will be accepted by the department at the public meeting and for a period of 10 days after the public meeting. Comments should be addressed to: J. Todd Helton, P.E., Project Management, Florida Department of Transportation, by mail 719 S. Woodland Blvd., Mail Station 542, DeLand, Florida 32720 or via email at todd.helton@dot.state.fl.us.

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 via email at Jennifer.Smith2@dot.state.fl.us.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 7 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting David Parks, Public Communication Coordinator, 844-858-4636, davidparks@i4ultimate.com. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).

For more information, please contact the FDOT Public Information Office, 386-943-5473 / jessica.ottaviano@dot.state.fl.us.