Dewberry, a privately held professional services firm, announced that it has been selected by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to provide concurrent project development and environment (PD&E) study and design services for improvements to the I-4 and U.S. 27 interchange in Polk County, Florida. Services include survey, alternatives development, environmental impact evaluations, public involvement, design of roadway, drainage and structural components, environmental permitting, and right-of-way mapping.
The project includes widening U.S. 27 from six to eight
lanes south of Ernie Caldwell Boulevard to Ritchie Road; designing Backage Road,
a new two-lane urban collector roadway; modifying the existing I-4 ramps; and
creating an auxiliary lane on I-4 from U.S. 27 to Champions Gate (CR 532). The
project will also feature a pair of restricted crossing U-turns (RCUTS), two
modern roundabouts, grade separation of the intersection between U.S. 27 and
Home Run Boulevard, and lengthening the existing U.S. 27 bridge over I-4.
“We’re excited to
increase capacity of this important corridor to accommodate future
transportation demand. Additonally, we look forward to providing a design that
improves both mobility and, more importantly, safety for U.S. 27 users,” says
Dewberry Associate Vice President and Senior Project Manager Ray Lee, PE.
Construction for the
project is expected to begin in July 2026.
