I-Drive Promenade Proposal Could Transform Sand Lake Road Intersection

How did this project start?

The push for a safer I-Drive and Sand Lake Road intersection dates back more than a decade. Joshua Wallack first pitched the concept of a pedestrian bridge here in 2013. Two early concepts, nicknamed “The Drone” and “The Wave,” were unveiled in 2023, and in 2025 county commissioners approved a formal design study for the bridge, estimated at $35.63 million. The 2026 promenade proposal builds on that foundation, adding a walkable, landscaped layer around the bridge itself.

Why is safety driving this project?

A traffic study found 661 crashes between 2017 and 2022 within roughly 650 feet of the intersection, including 12 pedestrian injuries and one involving a bicyclist. More than 50,000 vehicles pass through the intersection daily, and officials have cited that volume, paired with the crash history, as the core justification for both the bridge and promenade projects.

How does the promenade connect to the pedestrian bridge?

The promenade is a separate project from the elevated pedestrian bridge, which has already been funded and approved. The bridge is targeted for completion by 2030, with final design and right-of-way work underway. If approved, the promenade would follow its own roughly 37-month schedule — about 20 months for design and permitting, followed by 17 months of bidding and construction.

Who is behind the project, and how would it be funded?

Gateway 2040 LLC, led by Joshua Wallack, brought the $19.4 million promenade proposal to commissioners in August 2026. The company would coordinate voluntary right-of-way easement donations from property owners at each corner of the intersection, fund construction upfront, and be reimbursed later through future Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) transportation and pedestrian-safety funds.

What concerns have come up so far?

District 5 Commissioner Kelly Martinez Semrad raised concerns about giving Gateway 2040 LLC full control over its own contractors for the project. Mayor Jerry Demings and other board members noted that ongoing negotiations were intended to work through issues like this, and that no final agreement could move forward without full board approval.

What happens next?

Staff have been directed to negotiate partnership terms, reimbursements, and project details with Gateway 2040 LLC and other stakeholders. Additional discussions are expected with neighboring businesses, the International Drive CRA Advisory Committee, and FDOT, along with community meetings. The proposal is expected to return to the Board of County Commissioners for further review before a final vote.