Construction is set to begin soon on an important project -- the State Route 44 at Kepler Road Intersection Improvement Project. The improvements are expected to enhance driver and pedestrian safety in Volusia County, Florida. As part of the project, a 2-lane roundabout is being built at the intersection of State Route 44 and Kepler Road.

American Structurepoint is a nationwide architecture and engineering consulting firm with two offices in Florida. The Tampa design center opened in 2017, and a design center in Maitland opened in 2022.

“It is especially exciting to see this project come to construction as it was the first design project awarded to our firm by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT),” said American Structurepoint Vice President Nick Harrison. “This project has its share of complexities, and we have enjoyed working with the FDOT District Five to solve these challenges and deliver this roundabout to help improve safety and mobility in the area.”

Located between the City of DeLand and Interstate 4 in Florida, SR 44 is an emergency evacuation route and significant commuter corridor. The roundabout was designed with safety in mind for all modes of transportation, including pedestrians and bicyclists.

Roundabouts are becoming an increasingly popular choice for improving safety and traffic conditions. The innovative intersection design is becoming more common in Florida, which is one of the states in the US with the most roundabouts.

According to American Structurepoint, roundabouts offer an array of benefits over traditional intersections. Roundabouts reduce fatal crashes by 90%, total accidents by 40% and injury accidents by 75%.

Each roundabout eliminates about 350,000 pounds of CO2 emissions and approximately 20,000 gallons of gas consumption annually. They are resilient in inclement weather and power outages, as they are not reliant on overhead structures or electricity. They also reduce traffic noise and improve water quality, thanks to reduced pavement area.

In addition to the roundabout, this project also includes widening SR 44 from the intersection to approximately a quarter-mile east to install a two-way left turn lane. The project will also include resurfacing along SR 44 and Kepler as well.

The project will be constructed with no detours and thus will require several construction phases and use of temporary pavement and signals to complete. Construction is scheduled to begin soon and will continue through Fall 2025.

FDOT chose American Structurepoint to design the roundabout because the firm is a recognized leader in the analysis, design, public education, implementation and operation of roundabouts. To date, American Structurepoint has provided the design and/or conceptual layout or review for more than 350 roundabouts across the nation.
American Structurepoint also provided roadway design, signing/pavement marking design, traffic operational and safety analysis and public involvement services for the project.

To provide information and answer questions regarding the construction of the project, FDOT will be holding a public meeting on July 9 from 5:30-7:30 PM at the Sanborn Center, 815 S. Alabama Ave., DeLand, FL 32724.

For more information about the project, please visit https://www.cflroads.com/project/431922-1.