I-4 Ultimate Bridge Work this Weekend

Orlando Overnight Friday (tonight) into early Saturday morning, travelers in downtown Orlando will see additional work occurring at the Interstate 4 (I-4) overpass at State Road (S.R.) 50/Colonial Drive as part of the I-4 Ultimate project. Traffic on S.R. 50 will be detoured during the overnight hours, which coincides with the City of Orlando's closure for construction of a pedestrian bridge along S.R. 50. This joint closure is being done to minimize the impact to the traveling public. During this time, the I-4 Ultimate contractor will conduct a performance test of a bridge pier, which exhibited cracking earlier this year.

Safety is the number one priority for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). While the initial review and observation focused on safety-and the overpass was determined structurally sound-it remains closed to traffic. FDOT is concerned with the longevity of the pier since bridges on the I-4 Ultimate project are expected to last for 75 years, with regular and routine maintenance.

Conducting this test should provide necessary information to help determine next steps and a future timeline for the project team, as well as ensuring the public is receiving a quality product. The test will occur in a controlled environment, which involves gathering data from construction vehicles driven over the bridge in a prescribed sequence. It should be noted the results will take time to analyze, and the timeline of next steps has yet to be determined.

Work on this pier has not impacted the overall I-4 Ultimate construction schedule, as the project is anticipated to be completed in 2021. Costs associated with this pier are covered within the contract at the responsibility of the contractor.

FDOT urges drivers to be patient, alert and focused in construction zones and obey speed limits.