East-Central Florida sites are chosen for the first permanent installation, as commercial drivers traveling Interstate 4 (I-4) and I-95 will soon have extra help locating available parking spots. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is installing a Truck Parking Availability System (TPAS), which detects available spaces at rest areas and weigh stations and alerts commercial drivers via message boards.
The first seven locations to have this technology permanently installed in Florida are in Brevard, Flagler and Seminole counties in Central Florida. The specific locations are:
Brevard County:
- I-95 northbound rest area located about 5 miles south of State Road (S.R.) 514 (Exit 173)
- I-95 southbound rest area located about 4 miles south of S.R. 514 (Exit 173)
- I-95 northbound rest area located about 2 miles north of Exit S.R. 46 (Exit 223)
- I-95 southbound rest area located about 3 miles north of S.R. 46 (Exit 223)
Flagler County:
- I-95 northbound Truck Comfort Station (Weigh-in-Motion station) located about 2 miles north of S.R. 100 (Exit 284)
- I-95 southbound Truck Comfort Station (Weigh-in-Motion station) located about 3 miles south of Palm Coast Parkway (Exit 289)
Seminole County:
- I-4 eastbound rest area about 2 miles east of S.R. 434 (Exit 94)
The TPAS will use in-ground sensors in the truck spaces at weigh stations and rest areas, as well as detection devices at the entrances and exits to monitor the number of available truck parking spaces. The system will interface with the state’s SunGuide system, which will allow the information to also be available to drivers through the state’s FL511.com website and mobile apps.
Construction on the $1.8-million project is scheduled to begin mid-October, and be completed by spring 2018. Initial work will involve placement of conduit off of the main roadways, requiring only occasional shoulder closures. The contractor is expected to perform this work at multiple locations simultaneously.
Installation of the in-ground sensors will require about half of the truck parking spaces to be closed at a time. Electronic message boards will be used to alert drivers when spaces are closed, and updates will be available on FDOT’s Central Florida website www.cflroads.com.
The schedule is weather permitting and may change due to unforeseen circumstances. Motorists need to use caution, abide by posted speed limits and stay alert for trucks entering and exiting the roadway, while driving through active construction zones.
Motorists are encouraged to check www.cflroads.com for updates about this and other Central Florida projects.
