The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced on Monday that it is adding capacity to Interstate 4 (I-4) in Osceola County, the latest step by the department to improve mobility along the vital Central Florida corridor.
A new auxiliary lane on eastbound I-4 between County Road (C.R.) 532 and State Road (S.R.) 429 opened early Monday.
An auxiliary lane is an extra lane connecting the on and off ramps between two consecutive interchanges. The additional lane allows drivers wanting to merge onto the interstate a longer distance to do so and helps reduce bottlenecks caused by drivers attempting to enter or exit the interstate. This improvement is anticipated to increase capacity and improve traffic flow in the area.
The project – part of the FDOT’s I-4 Beyond the Ultimate program – also includes the construction of an auxiliary lane on westbound I-4 between the ramps of S.R. 429 and C.R 532, as well as an auxiliary lane on northbound S.R. 429 between I-4 and Sinclair Road. The westbound I-4 auxiliary lane is expected to open in the near future, with the goal of having both the eastbound and westbound I-4 auxiliary lanes open to the traveling public this spring.
Additional work includes milling and resurfacing eastbound and westbound I-4 from the Polk/Osceola County line to west of S.R. 417, and milling and resurfacing S.R. 429 between I-4 and Sinclair Road. Milling and resurfacing will create a smoother roadway for motorists and extend the life of the pavement. Construction began in late November 2021 and is anticipated to reach completion in early 2024.
The goal of the I-4 Beyond the Ultimate program is to improve safety, mobility, and connectivity in Central Florida to the east and west of the I-4 Ultimate project. I-4 Beyond the Ultimate addresses the biggest challenges to mobility on I-4 in Volusia, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties.
The auxiliary lanes are just one of several ongoing projects intended to improve efficiency and safety along the I-4 corridor. Right now, work is underway to reconstruct the Sand Lake Road (S.R. 482) and I-4 interchange, as well as add a new interchange at Daryl Carter Parkway and I-4. Construction will soon begin on another interchange project at Apopka-Vineland Road (S.R. 535) as well. These projects will also include new express lanes on westbound I-4.
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