The surety bond company has selected a new contractor to finish construction of Section 7A of the Wekiva Parkway (State Road (S.R.) 429) in Seminole County. SEMA Construction, Inc. is the general contractor selected to complete the work. Crews are scheduled to resume activities on June 3.
The selection was necessary after FDOT announced in April that the previous contractor responsible for building Section 7A, Astaldi Construction Corporation, had voluntarily defaulted on four projects throughout the state, including this section of the Wekiva Parkway project.
Work on this stretch along S.R. 46 from Longwood-Markham Road to Orange Boulevard began April 1, 2018 and is scheduled to finish in 2022. The completion timeframe for this segment of the parkway remains unchanged.
The Section 7A project is building 3.5 miles of limited access toll road along with non-tolled, parallel service roads for local travel, ramps to enter and exit the Wekiva Parkway, and several bridges over side streets. Roundabouts are planned as safety enhancements at the intersections under the parkway. Lighting is planned under the bridges and on frontage road approaches to the roundabouts.
More Project Information: The $1.6 billion Wekiva Parkway will complete the beltway around Central Florida, while helping to protect the natural resources surrounding the Wekiva River. The Florida Department of Transportation and the Central Florida Expressway Authority so far have completed 13 miles of the eventual 25-mile toll road. The parkway will provide travel alternatives, enhance safety and relieve U.S. 441, S.R. 46 and other area roads of traffic congestion.
Environmentalists refer to the Wekiva Parkway as a good example of transportation planning through environmentally sensitive areas. Parkway development has included conserving more than 3,400 acres of land, building wildlife bridges, and a largely elevated expressway to separate vehicles and wildlife.
FDOT urges all drivers to stay alert and use caution while driving through or near construction zones. When driving, walking, or bicycling, remember to pay attention and follow the rules. Safety doesn’t happen by accident.
