Trackout Control System Manages Safety Risks at Florida Highway Project

The I-4 Ultimate Improvement Project in Orlando, Fla., is one of the largest transportation projects in the U.S., and the largest highway project in Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) history. The repair, improvement and replacement of a 21-mile corridor is being undertaken by a joint venture between Skanska Construction, Granite Construction and Lane Construction, known as SGL Constructors.

At the project’s inception, the SGL Constructors began installing stabilized construction entrances, also known as soil tracking prevention devices, constructed of 2- to 4-in. rock. However, they quickly began to find traditional construction entrances to be inadequate and started to search for a solution to prevent trackout from their sites.

SGL found that many points of egress had limited space, which prevented the rock entrance from reaching the 50-ft length recommended by FDOT for a soil tracking prevention device. The rock entrances often were ineffective at removing mud from vehicle tires, especially when the site conditions were wet. Additionally, the use of rock at the point of egress can create a safety risk for passing motorists and their vehicles on active highways.

These challenges led SGL Constructors to turn to the FODS trackout control system. By switching to a composite trackout control mat, SGL Constructors found that they were able to quickly create distinctive, uniform and clearly marked construction entrances. The effectiveness of the mats allows them to be used in areas where space constraints limit the distance of travel and durability. A 10-year life expectancy allows them to be reused by SGL at multiple locations on the project.