As a result of the U.S. Army 7th Special Forces Group’s relocation to Eglin Air Force Base, the Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division of the Federal Highway Administration (EFLHD) anticipated an increase in traffic at the intersection of SR 85 and West McWhorter Avenue from 200 vehicles a day to more than 7,000. To accommodate the additional traffic, STV provided overall design management and engineering support for the design-build of a grade-separated interchange. Lane Construction Corporation led the design-build team.
After examining various reconfigurations of the original diamond interchange, STV designed a half-cloverleaf interchange system to avoid a nearby wetlands area and improve crossroad alignment. The design included two loops and linear rounds with two ramps and signalized intersections and a new 247-foot bridge. The team built an evolving 3-D computer model for grade control/survey layout early on in the project.
Opening four months ahead of schedule, the half-cloverleaf design saved the client $3 million.
