Heads up, drivers! Lane shift near Ivanhoe exit on WB I-4 due to damaged bridge

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Westbound lanes of Interstate 4, near Ivanhoe Boulevard, will be shifted after it was discovered construction crews damaged a bridge while working on the I-4 Ultimate Project. 

The Florida Department of Transportation said subcontractors working on the project told them crews hit a beam while working to take another beam down Wednesday night.  Crews are working to demolish the old bridge. The impacted beam was set to be removed in a few months.

"Upon further evaluation, engineers determined realigning the travel lanes on this bridge would be the best option available to get all lanes open in a timely manner," said FDOT spokesperson Jessica Ottaviano. "Under the new plan, weather permitting, crews will realign and shift travel lanes on the bridge to the right side. This shift will allow for all westbound I-4 travel lanes to reopen Saturday."

This bridge is scheduled to be removed in the coming months, but must be kept open for the time being until other bridge work is complete, Ottaviano added.

Multiple closures are necessary to install new striping and implement the shift. The westbound I-4 on-ramp from Princeton Street will close from 10 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Saturday morning. An additional westbound I-4 lane will close at 10:30 p.m. The shift is expected to be in place and all lanes reopened by 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

These closures are subject to change, as construction progress, roadway and weather conditions may require schedule adjustments. 

If the shift cannot be completed overnight/tonight, the back-up plan is to perform the work overnight tomorrow—after the downtown events have concluded.

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