Orlando South Interchange Phase 1, Beachline Interchange at La Quinta Drive and Truck Parking at Beachline Milepost 5.5 – Exhibit Room

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This project is being developed in accordance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status. Please contact one of the Title VI coordinators shown here to express any concerns regarding the Department’s compliance with Title VI.

Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise – Title VI Coordinator

Desarae Stills, Title VI Coordinator, Florida Department of Transportation Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise P.O. Box 613069 Ocoee, FL 34761‑3069 (407) 264‑3111 [email protected]

FDOT Statewide Title VI Coordinator

Lisa Bethancourt, Statewide Title VI Coordinator, Florida Department of Transportation Business Growth & Engagement Office 605 Suwannee Street, MS 65 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0450 (850) 414-4742 [email protected]

 

El proyecto propuesto está siendo desarrollado de acuerdo con la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964. Bajo el Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles, se solicita la participación del público sin distinción de raza, color, origen nacional, edad, sexo, religión, discapacidad o estado familiar. Las personas que deseen expresar sus preocupaciones pueden comunicarse con una de las oficinas mencionadas arriba. Para asistencia en español, contactar a Laura Duran al 407‑264‑3106 o [email protected].

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Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise follows the Florida Department of Transportation’s five-phase Project Development Process for delivering needed infrastructure improvements to communities throughout the state. The phases include Planning, Project Development & Environment – or PD&E – Study, Design, Right-of-Way Acquisition, and Construction.

The Planning and PD&E Phases of this project have been completed, and the project is currently in the Design Phase. The Design phase is when the construction plans and cost estimates to build a project are developed.

The Design phase is followed by Right-of-Way acquisition and construction. Right-of-Way acquisition is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. Construction is tentatively expected to start in the first quarter of 2028. The schedule is subject to change.

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This exhibit presents the preferred alternative selected during the Project Development and Environment or PD&E, Study completed in 2021. This was a large regional study which covered 3.4 miles along Florida’s Turnpike, 3.8 miles along State Road 528, and multiple interchanges.

Alternatives were evaluated and a preferred alternative was selected which met the PD&E Study’s Purpose and Need of enhancing safety, addressing traffic demand, improving travel time reliability, providing long term mobility, enhancing evacuation routes all while and avoiding or minimizing environmental impacts.

The preferred alternative identified in this PD&E Study included improvements to the main Orlando South Interchange, including new direct connect ramps between Florida’s Turnpike and the Beachline Expressway to improve efficiency. In addition, the Beachline Expressway bridges over Florida’s Turnpike would be replaced to allow for additional lanes on Florida’s Turnpike.

Improved ramp operations are addressed with All Electronic Tolling and the elimination of ramp weaving.

The preferred alternative also proposed two new “reliever interchanges” connected to the local street system. One interchange, known as the Voltaire Drive Interchange, would be constructed just east of the Florida Mall along State Road 528.

The other would be at Taft-Vineland Road along Florida’s Turnpike.

In addition, improvements are proposed along Consulate Drive as well as the Orange Blossom Trail and Consulate Drive intersection.

Large projects like this are often delivered in segments and PD&E studies are often reevaluated. This project will be delivered in segments, and the PD&E Study is being re-evaluated. The first segment slated for construction is the Florida’s Turnpike reliever interchange at Taft-Vineland Road, which is now in design. The legend on the exhibit provides a visual explanation of the symbols and lines used.

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This exhibit presents the proposed changes selected during the re-evaluation of the project’s Project Development and Environment, or PD&E, Study. As part of the PD&E reevaluation, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise identified an alternative that minimized impacts, lowered costs, and could be delivered sooner. The solution consists of a new Beachline eastbound on-ramp from Gills Drive which would replace the existing eastbound loop ramp and a new Beachline westbound off-ramp to La Quinta Drive which would replace the existing westbound ramp connection to Landstreet Road. Associated improvements along Gills Drive include realignment and a new roundabout. Associated improvements along La Quinta Drive include a new roundabout, and improvements from the roundabout to its intersection with Orange Blossom Trail. A new tractor-trailer parking lot in an outparcel owned by The Florida Mall is also being studied as part of these proposed projects. The legend on the exhibit provides a visual explanation of the symbols and lines used.

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This exhibit depicts a closer look at the improvements proposed by the re-evaluation of the PD&E Study. These include a new Beachline eastbound on-ramp from Gills Drive which would replace the existing eastbound loop ramp and a new Beachline westbound off-ramp to La Quinta Drive which would replace the existing westbound ramp connection to Landstreet Road. Associated improvements along Gills Drive include realignment and a new roundabout. Associated improvements along La Quinta Drive include a new roundabout, and improvements from the roundabout to its intersection with Orange Blossom Trail. A new tractor-trailer parking lot in an outparcel owned by The Florida Mall is also being studied as part of these proposed projects. The legend on the exhibit provides a visual explanation of the symbols and lines used.

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This exhibit depicts a closer look at proposed improvements along La Quinta Drive and Gills Drive, including a new Beachline eastbound on-ramp from Gills Drive, realignment and a new roundabout along Gills Drive. Improvements along La Quinta Drive including a new roundabout, and improvements from the roundabout to its intersection with Orange Blossom Trail are also depicted, as well as the new tractor-trailer parking lot being studied as part of these proposed projects. The legend on the exhibit provides a visual explanation of the symbols and lines used.

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This exhibit depicts the three Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise projects being discussed at this Public Information Meeting: the Orlando South Interchange Phase 1, Financial Project Identification Number 438547-2, Beachline Interchange at La Quinta Drive, Financial Project Identification Number 444979-2, and Truck Parking at Beachline Milepost 5.5, Financial Project Identification Number 444979-3.

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This exhibit depicts interim improvements proposed along Consulate Drive near Florida’s Turnpike.

These improvements include providing two dedicated Left Turn Lanes and two though lanes on the Florida’s Turnpike SB Exit Ramp to Consulate Drive, adding a third left turn lane on Consulate Drive at US 441, and extending the Right Turn Lane on Orange Blossom Trail. These planned improvements are tentatively scheduled to begin construction in 2028. The legend on the exhibit provides a visual explanation of the symbols and lines used.

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This exhibit provides a closer look at the proposed new Beachline westbound off-ramp to La Quinta Drive and its associated improvements including a new roundabout, and improvements from the roundabout to its intersection with Orange Blossom Trail, including an additional left turn lane that would be constructed as part of this project. These planned improvements are tentatively scheduled to begin construction in 2028. The legend on the exhibit provides a visual explanation of the symbols and lines used.

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This exhibit depicts typical sections for the proposed improvements along La Quinta Drive, including the addition of a west bound lane along with six-foot-wide sidewalks.

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This exhibit is a close-up look at the new tractor-trailer parking lot being studied. This lot would be constructed on an outparcel owned by The Florida Mall. Trucks would enter and exit the parking lot via the proposed new roundabout on La Quinta Drive. This is a potential future improvement currently under evaluation. The legend on the exhibit provides a visual explanation of the symbols and lines used.

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In this exhibit, current access to businesses along Consulate Drive near Orange Blossom Trail and proposed access management changes can be seen. Green arrows show turning movements that will be permitted. Red arrows indicate turning movements that will be prohibited.

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In this exhibit, current access to businesses along La Quinta Drive near Orange Blossom Trail and proposed access management changes can be seen. Green arrows show turning movements that will be permitted. Red arrows indicate turning movements that will be prohibited.

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In this exhibit, current access to businesses along La Quinta Drive near the proposed roundabout and proposed access management changes can be seen. Green arrows show turning movements that will be permitted. Red arrows indicate turning movements that will be prohibited.

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This exhibit shows the results of a preliminary Traffic Analysis performed for eight signalized intersections along Orange Blossom Trail from north of Sand Lake Road to south of Taft-Vineland Road, and along State Road 528/the Beachline Expressway from just west of John Young Parkway to east of Florida’s Turnpike.

Under Build conditions, there is an overall 9 percent reduction in cumulative intersection delay compared to the No-Build scenario.

Along Orange Blossom Trail, the Build condition provides travel time improvements in both directions.

Along SR 528, the Build condition results in substantial travel time savings, with reductions exceeding 50 percent in both directions.

The legend on the exhibit provides a visual explanation of the symbols and lines used.

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This Florida’s Turnpike project is bordered by projects to the south and to the north. The project to the north is the interchange between Sand Lake Road (SR 482) and Florida’s Turnpike (SR 91) Financial Project Identification Number 433663-1. This project is currently under construction. The project to the south is the new interchange between Florida’s Turnpike Mainline (SR 91) and Taft-Vineland Road (Milepost 253), Financial Project Identification Number 444980-1, and Capital Improvements Project 3037, a Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise/Orange County project, Financial Project Identification Number 444980-3. This project is scheduled begin construction by the end of this year.

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This exhibit highlights key milestones for this project. The Design Phase for this project began in the third quarter of last year. Following this Public Information Meeting in the second quarter of 2026, a Public Hearing is scheduled for December 2026. Both are to share updates and gather input from stakeholders and the community. The Right-of-Way acquisition process is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. The construction letting is scheduled for the first quarter of 2028. Note this schedule is subject to change.

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Your comments are essential to this process and will help Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise understand your concerns and suggestions for improvements. You may also email the Project Manager directly or submit your comments by U.S. mail to the Project Manager.

While written comments and questions are accepted at any time, we ask that you provide comments that you may have in connection with this public meeting by June 29, 2026. Please note that all questions and comments received related to this project will receive a response in writing.