POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Construction is now ramping up on a project to help with traffic congestion on I-4 between Tampa and Orlando.

What You Need To Know

  • Work is now ramping up to relieve congestion on I-4 between Tampa and Orlando

  • Two new lanes will be built east of U.S. 27 in Polk County to east of World Drive in Osceola County

  • It’s the start of a larger plan known as “Moving I-4 Forward” to improve congestion and safety on I-4 through Central Florida  

It’s part of the “Moving Florida Forward” plan that was announced by Gov. Ron DeSantis last June to help improve safety and congestion on major roadways around the state.

Part of that bigger plan is “Moving I-4 Forward,” which is made up of five major projects to improve traffic on I-4 in Central Florida.

The first part of that is now underway, which the Florida Department of Transportation is calling the “Accelerated Start.” Two new lanes are being built from east of U.S. 27 in Polk County to east of World Drive in Osceola County, one in each direction.

The goal is to have these two new lanes open by the end of the year.

According to FDOT, that 7.5 mile section of I-4 sees an average of 140,000 cars per day.

Once the lanes are open, work will begin on widening entrance and exit ramps at the ChampionsGate interchange, an area that sees constant congestion.

And that is all just the beginning.

While drivers may see relief later this year with the new lanes, FDOT is starting five other projects on I-4 from Polk County to Orange County. That includes widening I-4 from 6 lanes to 12 in some of those areas, plus new interchange ramps and connections.

That work will happen over the next several years.