FDOT District 5, SR 46 from SR 500/US 441 to Vista View (Wekiva 3B), Lake County, FL

Protean Design Group served as a subconsultant and provided signing, pavement markings, signalization, and lighting services for the widening and reconstruction of 0.92 miles of SR 46 and the new intersection at SR 500/US 441 with a separated flyover from SR 500/US 441 to SR 46. The project also included 0.47 miles of milling, resurfacing, and shoulder widening.

The intersection at SR 500/US 441 and SR 46 was originally a diamond interchange, which was converted to an at grade intersection with fly over to serve as the final segment of Wekiva Parkway and connect southbound SR 500/US 441 with eastbound SR 46. This project required close, continual coordination with the Central Florida Expressway (CFX) to tie into the overall vision for the Wekiva Parkway. Plans were reviewed for consistency with the other segments and signs were designed to CFX standards as well as the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Plan Preparation Manual (PPM). To alleviate the City of Mount Dora’s concerns with the flyover, the design team used a low-profile design with both steel and concrete options.

The original typical section of SR 46 was a two-lane rural undivided road with a posted speed of 55 miles per hour (MPH). The new design of SR 46 will be six lanes with a raised median, curb and gutter, 7-foot buffered bicycle lanes, and a posted speed of 45 MPH. The team’s design also included a multi-use path to safely convey bicyclists and pedestrians under the flyover. The original typical section of SR 500 (US 441) was a four-lane rural divided road with flush inside and outside shoulders, a divided grass median, and a posted speed of 55 MPH. The new typical section will include a six-lane suburban road with Type E curb and gutter, 6.5-foot buffered bicycle lanes, and a design speed of 50 MPH. As part of the temporary traffic control plan (TTCP), temporary signal designs were provided to allow for the safe demolition of the existing bridge and construction of the at-grade intersection.

Pavement markings included adding buffered bicycle lanes with cross over ramps and keyholes. Due to the unique ramp geometry and associated bicycle lane conflict points, green painted bicycle lanes were provided at these locations for additional emphasis and contrast to the conflict condition. A cantilever sign, multi-post signs, custom guide signs, and internally illuminated street name signs were included. Signals were mounted directly to the bridge girders for SR 500/US 441 and SR 46 movements, which required extensive coordination with the structural engineer to ensure all signal supports and openings were properly pre-fabricated. Supplemental mast arms were also added for the north/south movement on SR 500/US 441. Pedestrian crossings were included, along with video detection at the locations.

Pole-top mounted pedestrian-scale, decorative lighting was utilized along the sidewalk to provide consistency with the City of Mount Dora’s existing fixtures. We coordinated with the designer responsible for the SR 500/US 441 widening north of our project limits regarding tie-in points and a consistent lighting design. Based on these coordination efforts and with the lighting maintaining agency, the City of Mount Dora, it was determined that both the SR 500/US 441 and SR 46 corridors would utilize LED lighting. We coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure our light pole heights did not exceed their limit. Bridge maintenance lighting was added throughout the bridge structure and included placement for both steel and concrete options.