April 13, 2018 Steve Olson, 386-943-5479   steve.olson@dot.state.fl.us

Major U.S. 441 Traffic Diversion Scheduled at S.R. 46

Work is Part of the Wekiva Parkway

Mount Dora Beginning next Monday, motorists should be aware that U.S. Highway 441 traffic will be shifted onto temporary pavement along the State Road (S.R.) 46 southbound on- and off-ramps as part of building the Wekiva Parkway (S.R. 429). This traffic diversion will include requiring drivers to stop at a temporary traffic signal at S.R. 46 during construction (see top blue arrow on exhibit below).  
 
The traffic diversion will allow crews to rebuild this portion of U.S. 441 (shown as the red hashed area in the graphic below) and remove the overpass. This work is part of the Wekiva Parkway Sections 3A and 3B construction that began October 30, 2017.
 
To allow removal of the U.S. 441 overpass, S.R. 46 traffic later during this phase will shift onto nearby temporary pavement (see bottom blue arrow on exhibit below).
  
 

As part of this project, the U.S. 441 / S.R. 46 interchange will be converted to an at-grade, signalized intersection. A flyover ramp will provide continuous traffic flow from the north and heading east on S.R. 46 toward the parkway (see exhibit to the right). 

Motorists should be alert for lane closures and other traffic impacts during these activities.
 
Once traffic has been diverted, crews will begin removing the bridge and building the east side or future northbound lanes; they also will begin building the flyover bridge. Once the east side is done, traffic will switch onto those new lanes while work begins on the west side or the new southbound lanes.
 
Once both the new outside northbound and southbound lanes of U.S. 441 have been built, traffic will be split to allow building the median and turn lanes. Work on this section is scheduled to finish in spring of 2020.
 
More Project Information:
 
The $1.6 billion Wekiva Parkway will complete the beltway around Central Florida while helping to protect the natural resources surrounding the Wekiva River. The Florida Department of Transportation and the Central Florida Expressway Authority have been working together to build the 25-mile toll road, which provides travel alternatives, enhances safety and relieves congestion on local roads.
 
Environmentalists refer to the Wekiva Parkway as a good example of transportation planning through environmentally sensitive areas. Authorized by the 2004 Wekiva Parkway & Protection Act, parkway development has included conserving more than 3,400 acres of land. The parkway will include four expansive wildlife bridges, and will be largely elevated to reduce accidents between vehicles and wildlife.
 

For media inquiries, please contact Steve Olson, FDOT communications manager, at steve.olson@dot.state.fl.us, or 386-943-5479. Maps and other project information can be found at www.wekivaparkway.com. Follow the project on Facebook and Twitter for real-time updates.

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