Project completion still set in concrete

Nearly seven months into the transformation of the Interstate 75 and University Parkway intersection, the project is moving forward as planned.

“They’re running right on time,” Florida Department of Transportation Project Manager Marlena Gore said. “We’re just at 40% complete.”

FDOT is spending $74.5 million to reconfigure the intersection into a diverging diamond-style interchange, the first of its kind in Florida. Gore said the project is on budget.

The design makes traffic flow more efficient by reducing the number of red lights. The project also includes new auxiliary lanes on north- and southbound I-75 between University Parkway and Fruitville Road.

Prince Contracting broke ground Aug. 6, 2015 and is working to complete the project before Nathan Benderson Park hosts the World Rowing Championships in September 2017.

Currently, drivers heading southbound drive on a temporary road in what used to be the median between the original north and southbound lanes and over a temporary Acrow bridge structure, while construction crews build their replacements.

Crews are building mechanically stabilized earth walls to retain the soil on either side leading up to the bridge, as well as at each southbound on/off ramp. Drivers can see crews working on bridge bents, or piers, that will support the bridge, as well.

“The goal right now is to get southbound done,” said Mike Martin, project administrator, pointing toward the piers.

Officials expect the new I-75 southbound roadway and bridge to be finished by early fall. At that time, southbound traffic will be shift onto the new road and northbound drivers will use the temporary bridge.

FDOT is completing similar work on University Parkway from Market Street west to Cattlemen Road. New outside lanes are under construction. When they’re finished, likely this summer, FDOT will shift traffic to them so it can work on inside lanes.

Gore said FDOT remains committed to making the area as safe as possible both for drivers of the interstate and construction crews. The same number of lanes remain open as before the project started and the speed limit has been reduced to 60 mph in the construction zone.

Minor traffic accidents occurred almost daily during season, but now have lessened to one or two a week, Gore said.

“We’ve received data from FHP that 95% of our accidents have been because of distracted driving, not because of construction or maintenance or traffic-related,” Gore said. “Pay attention to driving, not the construction. The accidents that are occurring are absolutely avoidable.”

According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, 465 crashes occurred on I-75 Sept. 2 through May 23, between Fruitville Road and State Road 70, which is the construction zone. Of those, 120 had injuries with eight fatalities.