New Eastbound auxiliary lane adds capacity on I-4

Osceola County, FL - The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is adding capacity to Interstate 4 (I-4) in Osceola County, the latest step by the Department to improve mobility along the vital Central Florida corridor.

A new auxiliary lane on eastbound I-4 between County Road (C.R.) 532 and State Road (S.R.) 429 opened early Monday, May 15.

An auxiliary lane is an extra lane connecting the on and off ramps between two consecutive interchanges. The additional lane allows drivers wanting to merge onto the interstate a longer distance to do so and helps reduce bottlenecks caused by drivers attempting to enter or exit the interstate. This improvement is anticipated to increase capacity and improve traffic flow in the area.

The project – part of the FDOT’s I-4 Beyond the Ultimate program –also includes the construction of an auxiliary lane on westbound I-4 between the ramps of S.R. 429 and C.R 532, as well as an auxiliary lane on northbound S.R. 429 between I-4 and Sinclair Road. The westbound I-4 auxiliary lane is expected to open in the near future, with the goal of having both the eastbound and westbound I-4 auxiliary lanes open to the traveling public this spring.

Additional work includes milling and resurfacing eastbound and westbound I-4 from the Polk/Osceola County line to west of S.R. 417, and milling and resurfacing S.R. 429 between I-4 and Sinclair Road. Milling and resurfacing will create a smoother roadway for motorists and extend the life of the pavement. Construction began in late November 2021 and is anticipated to reach completion in early 2024.

The goal of the I-4 Beyond the Ultimate program is to improve safety, mobility, and connectivity in Central Florida to the east and west of the I-4 Ultimate project. I-4 Beyond the Ultimate addresses the biggest challenges to mobility on I-4 in Volusia, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties.

The auxiliary lanes are just one of several ongoing projects intended to improve efficiency and safety along the I-4 corridor. Right now, work is underway to reconstruct the Sand Lake Road (S.R. 482) and I-4 interchange, as well as add a new interchange at Daryl Carter Parkway and I-4. Construction will soon begin on another interchange project at Apopka-Vineland Road (S.R. 535) as well. These projects will also include new express lanes on westbound I-4.

For more information on the planned improvements on I-4, visit the project website at i4beyond. com.

Para ir más allá de la educación tradicional sobre las leyes y la promoción de conductas seguras para los conductores, el FDOT ha lanzado una campaña innovadora para el mes de junio que proporciona herramientas para ayudar a los conductores a mantener su atención en la carretera. El FDOT y la Patrulla de Carreteras de Florida realizaron un evento de lanzamiento el 31 de mayo en el Centro Regional de Administración de Transporte en Sanford.

El Distrito Cinco de FDOT, que cubre nueve condados en Florida Central, ha organizado eventos de alcance comunitario en todo el distrito y se comunicará a través de los medios locales, las redes sociales y la publicidad. Los socios encargados de hacer cumplir la ley distribuirán tarjetas de información y compartirán las redes sociales.

Los próximos eventos incluyen:

• 10 de junio: Simulacro de accidente de DUI para adolescentes (Condado Osceola)

• 17 de junio: crucero por el centro de DeLand (Condado Volusia)

• 19 de junio: Evento emergente de Orlando Sportsplex (Condado Orange)

Algunos de los eventos pasados fueron: Eustis First Fridays (Condado Lake), Evento de seguridad de verano (Condado Orange), Inauguración de la temporada de polo (Condado Marion) y Casa abierta anual de Space Coast TPO (Condado Brevard)

En www.TargetZeroFL.com/Distracted, los conductores pueden acceder a mensajes personalizados de respuesta automática "No molestar" para su dispositivo móvil para que otros sepan que están concentrados en conducir, así como listas de reproducción de música que pueden configurar antes de comenzar a conducir. .

Llevemos a todos a casa a salvo. Visite TargetZeroFL.com para obtener más información sobre el objetivo de Florida de CERO muertes y lesiones graves.

FDOT announces June as Target Zero: Distracted Driving month

Deland, FL - The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announces June as Target Zero: Distracted Driving Month in Central Florida, kicking off a month-long public information campaign.

In Florida, 9 out of 10 fatalities and 3 out of 4 injuries are due to lane departure, intersection, and pedestrian- and bicyclistinvolved crashes. Twenty percent of these crash types occur in Central Florida.

The majority involve Florida residents, and over 50% of the fatalities and serious injuries involve a young male driver (ages 22-27) – who may be a distracted driver. Because Central Florida is one of the top regions in the state for young men involved in fatal and serious crashes, the public information campaign will especially target young male drivers and their families.

After conducting research through focus groups with young male drivers in the Central Florida area, FDOT learned that these drivers often engage in dangerous behaviors, such as distracted driving, due to their desire to stay connected to their families, friends, and employers via their mobile devices. With their attention focused elsewhere while behind the wheel, these drivers have an increased risk of being involved in a serious or fatal crash on the road.

Distracted driving is anything that takes your hands off the wheel, your eyes off the road or your mind off driving, and can include texting, putting on makeup, reaching behind you to comfort a child in the back seat, eating, tuning the radio, or checking your phone’s navigation system.

To go beyond the traditional education of laws and promotion of safe driver behaviors, FDOT has launched an innovative campaign for the month of June that provides tools to help drivers keep their attention on the road. A kickoff event was held by FDOT and the Florida Highway Patrol on May 31 at the Regional Transportation Management Center in Sanford.

FDOT District Five, which covers nine counties in Central Florida, is hosting community outreach events throughout the district and reach out via local media, social media, and advertising. Law enforcement partners will distribute tip cards and share social media.

Upcoming events include:

June 10 – Teen Mock DUI Crash Event (Osceola County)

June 17 – Downtown DeLand Cruise (Volusia County)

June 19 – Orlando Sportsplex Pop-Up Event (Orange County)

Some of the past events were: Eustis First Fridays (Lake County), Summer Safety Event (Orange County), Polo Season Opener (Marion County) and Space Coast TPO Annual Open House (Brevard County)

At www.TargetZeroFL.com/Distracted, drivers can access custom “Do Not Disturb” auto-reply messages for their mobile device to let others know they are focused on driving, as well as music playlists that they can set before they start their drive.

Let’s get everyone home safely. Visit TargetZeroFL.com for more information on Florida’s target of ZERO fatalities and serious injuries.

KUA publica la guía de preparación para huracanes 2023

Kissimmee, FL - Con el comienzo de la temporada de huracanes del Atlántico de 2023, Kissimmee Utility Authority publicó su Manual de Huracanes de Osceola 2023, una guía de preparación completa, bilingüe y gratuita que se ofrece anualmente a los residentes del Condado Osceola.

Una asociación entre KUA, el Condado Osceola, las ciudades de Kissimmee y St. Cloud, Toho Water Authority y UF IFAS Extension en el Condado Osceola, el manual incluye información sobre refugios de emergencia, rutas de evacuación, seguridad para los generadores de energía y restauración de cortes de energía. En la publicación también se encuentran número telefónicos útiles, una lista de verificación de suministros para desastres y un mapa para seguimiento de ciclones tropicales.

El manual se puede descargar en inglés y español en el sitio web de KUA en www.kua. com/storm. Las copias impresas del manual bilingüe ya están disponibles en el vestíbulo del edificio de KUA ubicado en 1701 W. Carroll St, Kissimmee, FL.

“Brindamos esta guía anual de huracanes para que las familias del Condado Osceola puedan prepararse para la temporada de huracanes del Atlántico de 2023 tomando las medidas necesarias para garantizar su seguridad”, dijo el presidente y gerente general de KUA, Brian Horton. “Mientras trabaja en su plan, tenga la seguridad de que KUA está haciendo lo mismo. Contamos con un equipo de casi 300 empleados altamente calificados listos para responder al clima severo en cualquier momento”.

Para recibir una copia del manual impreso por correo, los residentes deben comunicarse con KUA al (407) 933-9838 o por correo electrónico a pr@kua.com. Las personas con discapacidades que deseen solicitar esta información en un formato alternativo deben comunicarse con KUA al 407-933-9838.

KUA releases 2023 Hurricane Preparedness Guide

Kissimmee, FL - With the start of the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season here, Kissimmee Utility Authority released its 2023 Osceola Hurricane Handbook, a free, bilingual, comprehensive preparedness guide offered annually to Osceola County residents.

A partnership between KUA, Osceola County, the cities of Kissimmee and St. Cloud, Toho Water Authority, and UF IFAS Extension in Osceola County, the handbook includes information on emergency shelters, evacuation routes, generator safety, and power outage restoration as well as helpful telephone numbers, a disaster supplies checklist, and a tropical cyclone tracking chart.

The handbook can be downloaded in English and Spanish from KUA’s website at www.kua.com/storm. Printed copies of the bilingual handbook are now available in KUA’s

Carroll Street lobby, located at 1701 W. Carroll St, Kissimmee, FL.

“We provide this annual hurricane guide so that Osceola County families can prepare for the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season by taking the steps necessary to ensure their safety,” said KUA President and General Manager Brian Horton. “As you work on your plan, rest assured that KUA is doing the same. We have a team of nearly 300 highly skilled employees ready to respond to severe weather at a moment’s notice.”

To receive a copy of the printed handbook by mail, residents should contact KUA at (407) 933-9838 or by e-mail at pr@kua. com. Persons with disabilities who would like to request this information in an alternative format should contact KUA at (407) 933-9838.