Ranger Central is wrapping up an $18.8 million job to make Florida’s Turnpike safer in St. Lucie County. Ranger has milled, resurfaced and added guard rail to a 16-mile stretch of the Turnpike under a contract begun in late 2004.

Safety features include a “friction” layer of asphalt that will help to guide water off the road. In addition, the guard rail will save lives by preventing cross-over collisions.

The extensive median work and existing poor soil conditions created an ongoing challenge for the project team. Any amount of rain threatened to delay work for a week or longer, and 2005 was a very rainy year. Despite the difficulty, the project will be completed by its summer deadline, as Project Superintendent Larry Roberts and his entire crew were able to keep the work on schedule.