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I-4 widening planned near Walt Disney World to include express lanes, room for rail corridor

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Published  September 27, 2023 10:20pm EDT
Orange County
FOX 35 Orlando

I-4 widening planned near Walt Disney World

Parts of Interstate 4 can be a traffic nightmare, especially near the theme parks. Now, the Florida Department of Transportation has unveiled plans to widen the road and include I-4 Express lanes between Osceola Parkway and the Champions Gate interchange. The center median will also be wide enough for a rail corridor.

ORLANDO, Fla. - The stretch of Interstate 4 from ChampionsGate to Osceola Parkway is known for heavy traffic. Now, state officials say they have a plan to give drivers more room.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) expects to start construction on a project late next year that will rebuild the interstate to accommodate more traffic lanes, auxiliary lanes, and express lanes in both directions. The center median will also be wide enough for a rail corridor.

Reconstruction of the existing interchanges is also part of the project. FDOT expects to have construction finished here within three to four years. Locals said they wished the project could expand even further. 

"At 6 a.m., it's already solid bumper-to-bumper going into Orlando," said Champions Gate resident Rick Smith, "and pretty much the same thing going towards Tampa."