Wekiva Parkway Section 206 (Contract 429-206)

Wekiva Parkway (SR-429) was a $1.6 billion design project for the greater metropolitan Orlando area. Through phased construction and collaborative effort between the Florida Department of Transportation, Central Florida Expressway Authority, and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise the estimated 7-year project completes the Orlando-area’s missing northwestern beltway link. The freeway currently ended at US 441 and connects to SR 417 by following along the Lake County/Orange County line.

DRMP was responsible for the design of a new 1.7 mile 6-lane limited access roadway from east of Round Lake Road to the Lake County/Orange County line.  This phase of the project, Section 206, included design of four bridge sites; SR 453 over County Line Road, SR 453 over Coronado Somerset Drive and ramps over CR 46 and the railroad.  SR 453 over County Line Road consisted of 180 -foot post-tensioned segmental u-girders. Design included a 3D finite element analysis with time dependent effects modeling the segmental construction as well as the final condition of the bridge. SR 453 over Coronado Somerset Drive consisted of 105-foot variable depth, haunched, rectangular beams. Design includes finite element analysis due to the variable depth superstructure. The ramp bridges are 2-span steel box girders designed with finite element software.

SR 429 provided the Orlando metropolitan area with a complete beltway for ease of access and traffic congestion relief. The parkway featured electronic tolling which provides the client with optimal revenue, gives motorists convenience and maximizes traffic flow. Not only did this major project benefit the community, it also helped the environment. The development of this limited-access highway featured elevated bridges to reduce accidents between motorists and surrounding wildlife.