Latest news with #MovingI-4Forward
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New lanes on I-4 alleviate backups from Polk County to Osceola County
POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — New lanes on I-4 from eastern Polk County to Osceola County have loosened up traffic flow in an area notorious for congestion. 'I drive on I-4 daily,' said Chad Jones, who works as a sales representative for a roofing company. 'It was a parking lot to say the least, a lot of congestion.' Orange juice truck flips over in Bradenton He said he can tell the traffic flow has improved this week. 'You can notice more of a flow. It's not as bumper to bumper all the time,' Jones said. In recent days, the Florida Department of Transportation opened a fourth lane on each side of I-4 between U.S. 27 and World Drive, a $27 million project. It is considered a first step in the $3.4 billion Moving I-4 Forward program. 'Seeing blue on your GPS, that's something that drivers have not seen in that area for a long time. So to finally see it, that shows that it's working, it's a sign of success,' said Matthew Richardson, director of communications for the Moving I-4 Forward program. Richardson said the 'congestion relief lanes' were completed eight months ahead of schedule. Along with updates to interchanges on I-4, the state is also planning 'Project 3,' which will extend Orlando-area paid express lanes into Polk County. A completion date is not being made public yet but work on the express lanes is set to begin in 2026. 'Those express lanes are a proven method that has helped to reduce congestion along I-4 and also gives drivers an option on how to best get to their destination quicker,' Richardson said. 'The goal is to have a continuous connectivity throughout Seminole, Orange and into Polk County.' The state is also working on alternate routes, including the Central Polk Parkway East. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Do you dread driving on I-4? See improvements coming this month and more projects ahead
Nobody likes sitting in traffic. And ranking right up there is the frustration of road work that seems to drag on forever. So mark this on your calendar: construction of "congestion relief lanes" on one of the busiest sections of Interstate 4 has finished ahead of schedule. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced this week that 6 miles of added lanes on I-4 will be completed eight months ahead of schedule. Here's what is going on. The new lanes, one additional lane in each direction of I-4 from U.S. 27 in Polk County to World Drive in Osceola County, will be open for use beginning the week of April 28, DeSantis said. "The new lanes will be located on the inside of the existing I-4 mainline to provide motorists with congestion relief," FDOT said. The project is being completed eight months ahead of schedule. After DeSantis directed the Florida Department of Transportation to deliver immediate congestion relief along I-4, the department "used an innovative construction approach to open new lanes early." FDOT launched the Moving I-4 Forward program and introduced a new streamlined method called Modified Phased Design-Build, a news release said. "Benefits of using this pioneering process include reduced project timelines, travelers spending less time in traffic, fewer taxpayer dollars being spent, and a continued focus on innovation," FDOT said. In practical application, on the section intended to open the week of April 28, construction crews paved the inner breakdown lanes, converting them to traffic lanes. The approach allowed new lanes to open "without waiting for full project completion. These lanes will remain open through all future construction," FDOT said. Yes. The Moving Florida Forward program includes nearly 700 projects across Florida, with $75 billion in infrastructure investment committed since 2019, a news release said. FDOT listed these projects after the new lanes open the week of April 28: Segment A: I-4 from east of U.S. 27 to west of S.R. 429. 4.1 miles. Segment B: I-4 from west of S.R. 429 to east of World Drive. 3.4 miles. Highlights include: Expand I-4 to accommodate up to 12 total lanes at the ChampionsGate Boulevard (C.R. 532) and World Drive interchanges. These additional lanes will consist of up to eight general use lanes and four express lanes (for future use). East of World Drive to east of U.S. 192. 2.6 miles. Highlights include: Three general-use lanes and two new express lanes in each direction. Maintain existing access to State Road (S.R.) 417 from the general-use lanes onI-4. A New ramps will connect the S.R. 417 toll to the I-4 express lanes. Replace toll plazas on S.R. 417. East of C.R. 532 to west of World Drive. 3.1 miles. Highlights include: Improvements to the State Road (S.R.) 429 interchange, which currently ends at I-4. Four general-use lanes and two express lanes in each direction. New ramps will be built to connect the express lanes on I-4 to S.R. 429 and from the I-4 general-use lanes to S.R. 429. Old Lake Wilson Road will be widened from Sinclair Road to Assembly Court and over I-4 from two to four lanes with sidewalks and bicycle lanes on both sides, including building a second bridge. West of U.S. 27 to west of ChampionsGate Boulevard (C.R. 532). 3.4 miles. Highlights include: Adding two express lanes in each direction along I-4. Adding ramps to connect I-4 express lanes and U.S. 27. West of Osceola Parkway to east of World Center Drive (S.R. 536). 2.1 miles. Highlights include: Adding two express lanes in each direction along I-4. Adding ramps to connect the express lanes and S.R. 536. Existing I-4 bridges at the Osceola Parkway interchange over Bonnet Creek will be reconstructed. Poinciana Connector from C.R. 532 to S.R. 429. 3.5 miles. Highlights include: Extending the Poinciana Connector from where it ends near U.S. 17 to Osceola Polk Line Road, County Road (C.R.) 532. The I-4 project will continue and connect south of the interchange with S.R. 429. Final configuration of the new road includes three lanes in each direction with the ability to expand to four lanes in each direction. Ramps connecting to Osceola Polk Line Road (C.R. 532) will be included. DeSantis announced the Moving Florida Forward initiative last year at a news conference in Polk County. The program includes nearly 700 projects across Florida. These projects will "deliver much-needed congestion relief 10 to 20 years ahead of the original schedule," according to FDOT's website. The projects are intended to: Strengthen resilient infrastructure for future growth. Improve travel times by reducing congestion. Increase safety and connectivity. Enhance the quality of life for the community. 'We launched the Moving Florida Forward initiative to accelerate major transportation projects that reduce congestion and improve connectivity,' DeSantis said. 'With nearly 700 projects underway and $75 billion in infrastructure investment since 2019, we're delivering real results for Floridians and keeping Florida moving.' This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida Interstate 4 congestion relief. New lanes opening April 28
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
DeSantis: New lanes on Interstate 4 in Polk County will open week of April 28
Construction of 'congestion relief lanes' on Interstate 4 in Polk County has finished ahead of schedule, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday. The project, adding one lane in each direction of I-4 from U.S. 27 in Polk County to World Drive in Osceola County, will be open for use beginning the week of April 28, DeSantis' office said in a news release. DeSantis announced the Moving Florida Forward initiative last year at a news conference in Polk County. The program includes nearly 700 projects across Florida, with $75 billion in infrastructure investment committed since 2019, the release said. DeSantis set a goal of completing the new lanes on I-4 in Polk County by the end of this year. FDOT launched the Moving I-4 Forward program and introduced a new modified phased design-build method, the release said. To supplement the existing three lanes in each direction, construction crews paved the inner breakdown lanes, converting them to traffic lanes. Polk Parkway East: Polk County transportation board on toll road: Move quickly, protect Bok Tower Gardens FDOT is also expediting full-build work at the County Road 532 and World Drive interchanges and preparing to launch more projects along the 14-mile corridor from U.S. 27 in Polk County to State Road 536 in Orange County, the release said. Improvements include two new express lanes and one general use lane in each direction, interchange upgrades, bridge work, resurfacing and added safety features. The agency is planning three major projects, including the new Poinciana Connector, which will begin construction and finalizing engineering this summer, two years sooner than anticipated, the release said. The new roadway connection will link I-4 to S.R. 429 and the future Central Florida Expressway facility, serving one of Osceola and Polk Counties' fastest-growing areas. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: New lanes on I-4 in Polk County will open week of April 28
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
FDOT looks to fast-track work on highly-congested stretch of I-4
Relief is coming to one of the most congested stretches of Interstate 4. Construction is underway to widen a stretch of I-4 between US-27 and World Drive. It has been dubbed the 'Accelerated Start Project' and it's just one piece of the Florida Department of Transportation's larger program, called 'Moving I-4 Forward.' Only Channel 9′s Alexa Lorenzo went out to get a first hand look at how quickly crews are moving as FDOT aims to complete work by the end of the year. Drone 9 captured a bird's-eye view on a late Wednesday morning of the area where officials said 140,000 cars travel daily. The 7.5 mile stretch of I-4 seems to be busy at any given time on any given day. 'This is a project that's always been on the docket. However the funding wasn't quite there.' FDOT's Matthew Richardson said. Richardson walked Lorenzo through the work happening right now on the Accelerated Start Project. 'This project is about 10 to 15 years ahead of schedule,' Richardson said. Channel 9 saw heavy machinery out and about as crews worked on pile driving to prepare the underground infrastructure needed to add one lane in each direction. As part of the project, drivers will also see improvements to the Champions Gate and US-27 Interchange. Overnight lane closures are already underway to help speed the project along. 'We are taking that already existing shoulder lane and we are making it the congestion relief lane ... so that's one of the innovative ways we are able to approach this to get it done quickly by the end of the year,' Richardson said. So get used to seeing roadwork through this stretch of I-4 through Orange and Osceola counties, because construction is in high gear and the state says it is committed to getting this project done. 'It's a fast paced process and it's keeping up with that pace. We understand that we are on a timeline of having the congestion relief lanes done by the end of the year,' Richardson said. Five larger projects that are part of the Moving I-4 Forward program will widen the highway from six lanes to as many as 12, by adding general-use and express lanes. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Interstate 4 construction to ramp up near Disney
Editor's note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal. The Florida Department of Transportation is ramping up a project which will soon add new lanes to a busy stretch of Interstate 4. FDOT's Moving I-4 Forward initiative will start construction soon on a 7.5-mile accelerated start project, which includes a new lane in each direction for Interstate 4 from east of U.S. Highway 27 and east of World Drive. The section where the accelerated projects are found sees an average of 140,000 vehicles per day. Read: 'I'm exhausted': Volusia County Cancer patient battles DCF for Medicaid benefits Work that will be completed later this year for I-4 includes: One new lane on I-4 in each direction from east of U.S. 27 to west of State Road 429, a stretch of 4.1 miles, as well as two new express lanes that will open in the future in each direction along 1.6 miles. A new lane in each direction over 3.4 miles of I-4, from west of S.R. 429 to World Drive, as well as two new express lanes that will open in the future in each direction. Wider entrance and exit ramps at the ChampionsGate interchange. Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journal's website. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
