Before the Wekiva Parkway Section 8 Interchange was constructed, motorists traveling across Central Florida often had to leave the region's expressway system and navigate local roads to travel between I-4, SR 417, and SR 429. The missing link created congestion, reduced travel reliability, and limited regional connectivity. Today, that gap is gone.

As the final connection needed to complete Central Florida's beltway, the Wekiva Parkway Section 8 Interchange improves mobility, enhances safety, and provides a more direct route for the tens of thousands of drivers who rely on this corridor.

The Wekiva Parkway Section 8 Interchange is a significant achievement for our Alternative Delivery Department and a reflection of the dedication, expertise, and commitment of everyone involved. The project’s eight major industry awards recognize the efforts of our team and partners in overcoming complex challenges and delivering a critical connection for Central Florida. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a project that demonstrates the value of alternative delivery and sets a strong example of what can be achieved through thoughtful planning and execution.

As lead designer, DRMP partnered with The Lane Construction Corporation (contractor) to deliver the $274.5 million design-build project. The team's collaborative design-build approach transformed significant engineering challenges into opportunities for innovation. Located within one of Florida's most constrained transportation corridors, the project required solutions for limited right-of-way, high groundwater, weak soils, extensive utility infrastructure, and a major Duke Energy transmission line while maintaining traffic on I-4, one of the state's busiest interstates.

By strategically realigning I-4, the project avoided relocating the Duke Energy transmission line, saving millions of dollars and years of potential delays while allowing construction to occur largely offline. Additional design innovations preserved existing infrastructure, reduced bridge deck area by 200,000 square feet, reused roadway and drainage systems where feasible, and generated approximately $75 million in cost savings without compromising quality or performance.

A Landmark Achievement

The project included 2.63 miles of new limited-access toll road, 20 new bridges, reconstruction of 2 miles of I-4 to accommodate future I-4 Beyond the Ultimate express lanes, advanced intelligent transportation systems, all-electronic tolling, and extensive roadway, drainage, lighting, signage, and traffic control improvements.

Sustainability was further advanced through reduced impervious surface area, wetland protection, preservation of conservation easements, and the reuse of existing infrastructure where possible.

The result is a landmark achievement in transportation infrastructure that demonstrates how design-build delivery can accelerate schedules, maximize value, and deliver complex projects with measurable benefits.

The industry's recognition reflects that success. The project has earned eight major awards, including:

• American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) National Project of the Year Award (Over $100 million category) (2026)
• American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) National Recognition Award Engineering Excellence Awards (2026)
• ACEC Florida Grand Winner in the Transportation Category (2026)
• National Award of Merit from the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) in Transportation (Other than Aviation) Category (2025)
• Project of the Year from the DBIA Florida Region in the Transportation - Structures Category (2025)
• Engineering News-Record (ENR) Southeast Highway/Bridge Award of Merit in the Best Projects Competition (2025)
• Florida Transportation Builders’ Association (FTBA) Best in Construction Award for Design-Build (2025)
• Outstanding Design-Build or Construction Manager at Risk Project Award from ACEC Florida and FDOT (2025)

The strongest design-build projects begin with decisions made early when design and construction work together to solve challenges before they become obstacles. The Wekiva Parkway Section 8 Interchange demonstrates the value of that approach, where early collaboration helped address complex constraints, reduce risk, and deliver a critical connection for Central Florida.