ORLANDO, Fla. — A Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise widening project designed by DRMP was among the completed improvements highlighted in a recent Florida Department of Transportation news release detailing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ announcement of more than $20 billion in investments to expand the Turnpike Mainline/State Road (S.R.) 91.
The $162 million Florida’s Turnpike Mainline/State Road (S.R.) 91 Widening from State Road 50 Interchange to Minneola Interchange project was completed in June 2026 for Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise. The project expanded approximately six miles of roadway from four to eight lanes in Orange and Lake counties to accommodate growing demand from local commuters and long-distance travelers and provide additional capacity during emergency evacuations.
According to FDOT, the broader initiative highlighted by DeSantis will expand the entire 320-mile Turnpike Mainline from South Florida to Interstate 75 in Wildwood to six or more lanes, adding more than 965 lane miles upon completion. The department identified the SR 50–Minneola widening as one of the completed improvements contributing to that expansion.
DRMP provided multidisciplinary design services for widening, which included bridge replacements, interchange improvements and upgrades to drainage, lighting, tolling, traffic operations and intelligent transportation systems, along with utility coordination, environmental permitting, surveying and right of way mapping.
A central challenge was designing the expansion and replacement bridges while keeping traffic moving through the busy corridor. DRMP designed the roadway and bridges with phased maintenance-of-traffic plans, incorporating temporary walls.
“Keeping traffic moving required us to plan how the roadway and bridge work would fit together through each phase of construction,” said Amanda Woods, DRMP executive vice president and director of transportation.
Woods served as the consultant project manager for the project.
“By integrating temporary structures and accommodating emergency shoulder use into the design, our team helped provide a path for construction to proceed while maintaining access through the corridor even during hurricane evacuations,” Woods said. “That coordination supported the Turnpike’s expansion and the local connections surrounding communities depend on.”
The project replaced Turnpike bridges at Jones Road, Old Highway 50 and Blackstill Lake Road, added a new overpass at Fosgate Road and replaced the County Road 438 and County Road 455 overpasses. A new West Orange Trail bridge accommodates pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrian users. Two roundabouts at the ends of the CR 455 overpass provide local road connections, with landscaping and lighting enhancements.
DRMP’s design brought together roadway and structural engineering, traffic operations, intelligent transportation systems, drainage, utility coordination, environmental permitting and surveying. The team also supported public involvement and coordination with local agencies to integrate the mainline improvements with surrounding roads and communities.
About DRMP
Since 1977, DRMP has earned a reputation as a trusted multidisciplinary civil engineering and surveying firm delivering innovative infrastructure solutions that strengthen communities. What began as a Florida-based surveying practice has grown into a leading Southeastern engineering consulting firm with more than 1,000 professionals across 32 offices.
Today, DRMP’s engineers, planners, surveyors and scientists partner with state transportation agencies, municipalities, federal clients and private developers to plan, design and deliver critical infrastructure. Our integrated services span surveying and geospatial services, civil engineering, land development and community planning by supporting projects that improve transportation infrastructure and mobility, resilience and quality of life across the Southeastern United States.
Ranked among Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms in the United States, DRMP is recognized for helping clients solve complex infrastructure challenges through technical excellence, innovative thinking and trusted partnerships.
At the heart of our success is a collaborative approach built on long-standing relationships with the clients and communities we serve. By combining deep technical expertise with responsive service and local insight, we deliver solutions that are both forward-thinking and grounded in the needs of the communities they support. Learn more at drmp.com.
