SR 528 (Beachline) Widening from Florida’s Turnpike to McCoy Road
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) sought to upgrade the existing Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) along 5-miles of SR 528 to actively monitor and manage a first of its kind deployment of express lanes in Central Florida. This project included widening into the median for four miles from 6-lanes to 8-lanes by adding one express lane in each direction separated by a 2-foot buffer with delineators. Coordination and a memorandum of understanding with the Central Florida Expressway Authority was required in order to install ITS infrastructure within their jurisdiction.
DRMP was responsible for the concept of operations, design and plans production for the new ITS infrastructure. The design and plans addressed all impacts to the existing ITS fiber and devices within the project limits. Included upgrades to the existing ITS such as new gigabit Ethernet communications backbone fiber with supporting field installations of dynamic message signs (DMS) (lane status, toll amount and incident), CCTV camera sites, Microwave VDS and bluetooth travel time systems (TTS) and highway advisory radio (HAR) systems. Design also included electrical services with automatic transfer switches and permanent generator backup for all field devices. Wiring and fiber splicing diagrams, equipment details and specifications were developed as part of this project.
The corridor is now equipped with the latest express lane ITS technology giving FTE a more robust traffic management system allowing the dissemination of traveler information. The ITS created for the express lane system will allow for dynamic toll rates based on real-time traffic flow conditions. This provides a tool to manage the express lane volume which ensures a reliable route is maintained for the motoring public.
Awards
2021
ACEC Florida- 2021 Engineering Excellence Grand Award in Transportation Category
