The Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) I-4 Ultimate reconstruction and widening project will take place on the 21-mile stretch from Kirkman Road to State Road 434 on Interstate 4.  Of the 142 bridges along the corridor, 13 will be widened, 74 will be replaced, 53 will be new and 2 will be temporary. In addition, 15 major interchanges will undergo complete reconstruction.
New Express Lanes with dynamic pricing will be added to the center of I-4, two in each direction, providing a choice to drivers. Toll prices will vary based on the level of congestion at different times throughout the day, with the rate structure designed to help keep cars in the Express Lanes moving at 50 miles per hour. The general use lanes will continue to be free, as they are today. In addition, heavy trucks are not permitted in the Express Lanes. The I-4 Ultimate project is expected to substantially improve the overall flow of the corridor.
WHAT TO KNOW
- The project affects I-4 west of Kirkman Road in Orange County to east of State Road 434 in Seminole County (21 miles).
- The total estimated project cost is $2.3 billion in year-of-expenditure dollars.
- The public-private partnership (P3) procurement allows project completion 17 years earlier than traditional methods.
IMPORTANT ANTICIPATED DATES
- Contract Signing: Late Summer 2014
- Notice to Proceed 1 (design begins): October 2014
- Notice to Proceed 2 (construction begins): Early 2015
• Construction and Maintenance Start Date: Early 2015
• Anticipated Completion: 2021
HISTORY
I-4 was originally built in the 1960s and accommodated a much smaller Central Florida population. Today, with more than 1.5 million trips daily, traffic congestion is a major problem. Although there have been improvement projects in the past, including the reconstruction of interchanges, widening of the roadway and construction of additional lanes, much more is needed.
The Texas Transportation Institute’s 2012 Urban Mobility Report ranked Orlando as number 14 in the nation for traffic congestion. It found that commuters each spend an annual 45 hours stuck in traffic, totaling an individual congestion cost of $984 each year.
FDOT’S MANAGED LANES APPROACH
To better manage congestion and improve roadway conditions, FDOT is planning to put Express Lanes on major roadways throughout Florida. Managed lanes projects include I-95 and I-595 in South Florida. More information about managed lanes can be found at www.FloridaManagedLanes.com.
