- May 4, 2024
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UNIVERSITY PARKWAY — As the Florida Department of Transportation begins an $83 million project to improve transportation at the intersection of University Parkway and Interstate 75, much of its work, at least initially, will be keeping motorists calm.
With road congestion — and even gridlock — along University Parkway at nearby intersections of Market Street, in Lakewood Ranch, and Cattlemen Road, in Sarasota, Sarasota and Manatee county residents already are worried about traffic in the area. Adding a two-year construction project to the mix might be a traffic stopper, they say.
But FDOT officials say they are confident impacts to daily traffic will be minimal as FDOT begins work on a reconfiguration of the I-75 interchange at University Parkway into what is called a diverging diamond design. The concept is based on a standard diamond interchange design, but it has a shift in crossroad traffic within the interchange that allows left turn movements to occur without crossing oncoming traffic (see box, below).
Transportation engineers say the concept eliminates wait times at traffic signals and makes traffic flow more efficiently.
The diverging diamond interchange will be the first of its kind in the state, although the concept is prevalent in other areas of the country.
Another first of its kind for the area will be a temporary structure being built while the diamond construction gets underway.
“We’re planning on using a temporary bridge structure that FDOT is purchasing to construct the job,” said Kevin Ingle, FDOT major reconstruction design engineer. “It shortens the time of construction.”
Use of the bridge will speed up the construction timeline by more than a year and also will allow FDOT to keep all lanes of I-75 open.
The temporary bridge structure — the largest in FDOT’s inventory — will be assembled in the median of I-75 and then pushed across on rollers to its final place during construction. Once anchored down, FDOT will be able to divert northbound or southbound I-75 traffic, depending on the need, onto the bridge as it demolishes the existing infrastructure.
“All the lanes open today will be open during construction, minus a few exceptions,” Ingle said, noting contractors will work at night to limit impacts to drivers.
FDOT Communication Specialist Robin Stublen said FDOT will hire a public information officer specific to the project. He or she will attend construction meetings and address other issues. Stublen will issue notices for nighttime closures well in advance.
Design work is expected to finish in February and will prompt the request-for-proposal process.
Stublen said he expects FDOT to select a contractor in May and for that contractor to develop a construction schedule and have a signed contract in June 2015. At that time, FDOT will also hold a public meeting. Road work will likely begin in July.
Ingle said the project uses traditional construction techniques and FDOT does not expect any setbacks.
Market Street
The intersection of Market Street and University Parkway is maintained by Manatee County and is not part of the Florida Department of Transportation project.
However, FDOT will complete some indirect improvements to make sure traffic on I-75 does not back up.
For example, the project will extend the right turn lane onto Lake Osprey Drive, heading east on University Parkway. It also will extend dual left turns onto Market Street, said Donny Holcomb, vice president of HDR Engineering and project manager of the project.
Drive the diamond
View a simulation of driving the new University Parkway and Interstate 75 interchange at www.i75manatee.com.
TIMELINE
June 26, 2014: FDOT hosts public input meeting on diverging diamond
Oct. 9, 2014: FDOT secures funding to advance diverging diamond project
February 2015 FDOT to complete design; Request-for-proposals process begins
May 2015 FDOT to select project contractor
June 2015 FDOT to host public meeting
July 2015 Construct tentatively slated to begin
September 2017 Construction completed
