Team Selected for Accelerated Start Segment A and Segment B
The Moving I-4 Forward Program took a big step toward the goal to quickly relieve congestion for drivers in a high traffic area.
The Moving I-4 Forward Team celebrated a major milestone and start of the program’s construction with the determination of The de Moya Highway Construction Joint Venture as the design-build team for the program’s Accelerated Start Project Segment A and Segment B to move forward with final design and construction. The de Moya team was determined based on ranking the performance during the Accelerated Innovation and Collaboration (AIC) phase, project guaranteed maximum price (PGMP), and Request to Continue (RtC) package. The RtC package included approved innovations, construction phasing plan, and construction schedule. These RtC requirements will be incorporated into their subsequent task work order to perform the work during design and construction for the Accelerated Start Project.
“This program is about commitment, collaboration, and innovation and those key values are what is going to make this program successful,” said Will N. Watts, Jr., P.E., Assistant Secretary of Engineering and Operations for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
"This achievement marks a significant milestone for our team,” said Keith Slater, P.E., Moving I-4 Forward’s Program Director. “The dedication and hard work invested in this program has been tremendous, and we are excited to keep moving forward with even more enthusiasm."
The de Moya Highway Construction Joint Venture is excited to get started on the Accelerated Start Project and see the traffic improvements once complete.
“We are excited for the opportunity to deliver congestion relief in record time and set the stage for the upcoming projects on the I-4 corridor.” said AJ de Moya, Vice President of The de Moya Group. “Our team is ready to do ‘whatever it takes’ to make this project a success for the Department and the traveling public.”
“This is a great milestone for our team,” said Marc Hustad, P.E., Moving I-4 Forward’s Interim Program Manager. “Our team put in a lot of hard work over a short period of time. It takes a solid and committed team to achieve an outcome like this. This entire program is innovative, and we will continue to learn and collaborate with each other to continue to improve our delivery of the program each step of the way.”
This project will build one additional congestion relief lane going in both directions on I-4 from east U.S. 27 to east of World Drive and will additionally set the stage for future projects on the corridor with full-build typical sections at County Road (C.R.) 532 (ChampionsGate Boulevard) and World Drive. The 7.5-mile project is split into two segments: Segment A and Segment B. Work for the Accelerated Start Project was already underway in 2024 with pre-construction activity and geotechnical drilling to prepare the area for the additional construction work. This includes paving operations for the congestion relief lanes and pile driving at the I-4 and C.R. 532 interchange.
The Congestion Relief lanes are expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
The Moving I-4 Forward team attended District 5 Construction Career Day. The program is designed to introduce school students to the wide range of career opportunities available to them in the construction industry in a hands-on environment. The team shared information about the exciting opportunities with the Moving I-4 Forward Program and its industry partners with over 2,000 students who were in attendance from local schools.
On a Mission: Team Member Spotlight
Meet the team hard at work to keep Moving I-4 Forward. Each month, we’ll highlight an individual making a difference in our mission to improve the I-4 corridor.
Name: Steve McWilliams, P.E.
Title: Project Delivery Risk and Mitigation Lead
Expertise: Steve brings a wealth of experience in transportation and roadway design to the Moving I-4 Forward team. He has worked as Project Manager and Project Engineer on a number of FDOT projects.
Why Moving I-4 Forward: Steve wants to be a part of the program that innovates ways to move projects more quickly from concept to construction.
Team Member Trivia: Steve has worked in the transportation industry for 30 years.
The Moving I-4 Forward team is excited to reach the following project milestones in 2025:
Accelerated Start Project construction teams selected
Congestion Relief Lanes created and completed
First core projects consisting of Project 1, Project 2 and Project 5 will begin the MPDB (Modified Phase Design-Build) procurement process in early 2025
