A joint venture of Skanska, Granite and Lane, known as SGL Constructors, has finished building the central tolled lanes part of the $2.3bn “I-4 Ultimate” public-private highway redevelopment, which upgraded 21 miles of the Interstate 4 roadway in central Florida. Work began in spring 2015.
The project inserted four lanes of tolled highway, paved in pale concrete, between eight lanes of free road between State Road 435 (SR435) in Orange County to just east of SR434 in Seminole County.
Vehicles fitted with approved transponders are charged automatically for using the toll roads, with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) adjusting prices based on traffic volume to manage congestion.
As well as adding the express toll lanes, the I-4 Ultimate project replaced more than 140 bridges and reconfigured 15 interchanges. It is considered one of the most complex road infrastructure projects underway in the US, and is the biggest infrastructure project undertaken by the State of Florida to date, SGL Constructors said in a press release.
In April 2014, FDOT awarded the I-4 Ultimate project to I-4 Mobility Partners, a private equity concessionaire comprising Skanska Asset Management and John Laing. The concessionaire will collect toll revenue, operate and maintain the highway for 33 years.
“The completion of these express lanes, and earlier general use lanes, is the culmination of 21 million man-hours of dedicated work by local and industry professionals,” said William McGuinness, project director of SGL Constructors.
“With this milestone, the 21-mile corridor is now prepared for full functionality and use for the 220,000 daily visitors, businesses and residents of Central Florida using this vital interstate.”
