Back in January of 2013, work began on the State Road 417 and Boggy Creek Road interchange in order to provide better access to the Orlando International Airport from South Orange and Osceola Counties and the booming Lake Nona area.
In order to do this, the $71 million project was divided into two phases.
The first phase was completed in November of 2013 and simply entailed the construction of new roadway alignments, phase two however was started back in January and includes new flyover ramps for the new interchange and even new ramp plazas.
What is interesting about these new flyover ramps will be using new spliced U-girder technologies that will for this type of U-bridge to be used for the first time in the state of Florida. Colorado has already used the technology successfully. The new technology is significant in many ways.
Experts say a much briefer time to construct is needed than conventional construction, it makes for the ability to span longer distances, has less maintenance than steel (no painting or corrosion) and it simply provides an alternate to steel beam construction encouraging price competition.
There are a few drawbacks however with this type of construction, including the fact that extensive shoring is needed for this type of construction, larger cranes are needed than normal and it requires more engineering work than typical beam construction.
There will be three bridges being built at the State Road 417 and Boggy Creek Road interchange; one from eastbound SR-417 to Southbound Boggy Creek, one from Southbound Boggy Creek to eastbound SR-417 and one from westbound SR-417 to southbound Boggy Creek Road.
At this point, officials say that if all goes well, construction should be slated for completion sometime this November.