Sunday, Nov. 16 and Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.: There will be single lane closures overnight on both State Road (S.R.) 44 and Kepler Road in all four directions. Crews will be shifting traffic. 

Motorists should expect delays, avoid distractions, and drive cautiously through the work zones.

Beginning Thursday, November 20: the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will convert the intersection of State Road (S.R.) 44 (East New York Avenue) and Kepler Road in DeLand into a new, single-lane roundabout configuration as work continues on the project to improve traffic flow and safety at this busy intersection.

Beginning Wednesday evening, November 19, crews will be paving, striping, and conducting other construction operations to prepare the intersection for the change. Motorists should expect delays and consider taking an alternate route during the overnight hours.

As the new roundabout is put into place, yield signs will be installed, and existing traffic signals will be turned off and removed. Construction drums, signage, and message boards will guide motorists through the roundabout. Throughout construction, the design will safely accommodate large trucks and buses. See map under "Project Images".

How to Navigate: Vehicles should enter the new roundabout to the right and continue counterclockwise. Drivers approaching the roundabout should slow down and yield to traffic already inside the roundabout and should signal before exiting the roundabout. The speed limit within the roundabout will be 25 mph. New right-turn bypass lanes at three of the four road connections will allow drivers to turn right without entering the roundabout.

When driving through the work zone, drivers should be alert, avoid distractions, follow signage, allow plenty of distance from the vehicle ahead, and use extra caution as the community adjusts to the new traffic pattern.

Project Work Yet to Come: The shift to a single-lane roundabout configuration is being implemented ahead of the final two-lane roundabout configuration, which will be introduced in the coming months. This phased approach allows motorists time to adjust to driving through the new traffic pattern while also providing a safe and efficient work zone for construction crews.

As work progresses toward the completion of the two-lane roundabout, motorists should expect intermittent lane closures, including temporary closures of the right turn bypass lanes. The full project is expected to be completed in early 2026; however, the work schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances.

Roundabout Safety: Compared to traditional signalized intersections, roundabouts reduce the likelihood of crashes resulting in severe injuries and fatalities by up to 82%. Roundabouts slow traffic and decrease the number of vehicle conflict points where crashes can occur, making the intersection safer for both motorists and pedestrians.

Watch these videos to learn more about navigating a roundabout:

• Being Roundabout Ready
• How to Use a Roundabout

As the full project nears completion, crews will add pedestrian safety features including new sidewalks and crosswalks equipped with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) to increase drivers’ awareness of pedestrians. Areas near the intersection will be resurfaced, and a center bi-directional turn lane will be added on S.R. 44 from east of Kepler Road to Lake Winnemissett Drive.