All Eastbound I-4 Lanes Shifted to Final Footprint

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) shifted a major section of the eastbound Interstate 4 (I-4) general use lanes into a new configuration under State Road (S.R.) 408 Sunday, October 18.

For the first time since the 1960s, 21 contiguous miles of eastbound I-4 will travel on newly constructed roadway. 

The shift moves nearly a half mile of interstate traffic between Gore Street and South Street from temporary travel lanes into a final footprint that did not exist before the I-4 Ultimate project began in 2015. Additional minor adjustments will be required to place all eastbound I-4 lanes and shoulders into final alignment by the end of 2020.

Please view or download a handout detailing the shift here.

Driving through the project has changed significantly. Stay updated by visiting I4Ultimate.com.

Michigan Street Ramp Opened in Final Configuration

Another new portion of the I-4 Ultimate project opened in October.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) opened the eastbound Interstate 4 (I-4) entrance ramp from westbound and eastbound Michigan Street at the start of October.

The Michigan Street ramp was closed in February 2020 for a rebuild of the ramp.

At the same time, crews permanently closed the eastbound I-4 ramp from Kaley Avenue. The Kaley Avenue ramp remained open to provide an alternate entrance to eastbound I-4 from south downtown Orlando during the long-term closure of the Michigan Street ramp.

As part of the reconstruction of I-4, the Michigan Street and Kaley Avenue interchanges are being combined to improve traffic flow. Prior to I-4 Ultimate, the proximity of the Michigan Street and Kaley Avenue interchanges created congestion on I-4 and potential conflicts with weaving traffic patterns. The new configuration braids entrance and exit ramps over top of each other to eliminate crossover points.

Texas U-turns will be implemented by the end of 2020 to connect Kaley Avenue and Michigan Street with new frontage roads that allow free-flowing access between the two interchanges. The new U-turns will allow drivers traveling on the frontage roads between Michigan Street and Kaley Avenue to U-turn under I-4 without waiting at a traffic signal, allowing the interchanges to work together to improve travel times and reduce delays in the area.

Please refer to this handout to learn more about the new ramp at Michigan Street, and refer to this handout for details about the improvements at the Michigan Street and Kaley Avenue interchanges.

Motorists are encouraged to follow @I4Ultimate on Twitter or visit I4Ultimate.com for updates as more areas of the I-4 Ultimate open and shift.

Spotlight:
National Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week Encourages Safe Driving

All motorists rely on first responders to manage traffic incidents after they occur. But, those driving by don’t always think about the dangers first responders face each day.

It’s the firefighters, police, emergency medical crews, Road Rangers, hazmat teams, commercial tow truck drivers, and others who assist injured victims, direct vehicles past the site, untangle traffic tie-ups, clear the wreckage, mop up fuel spills, and manage the scene so that secondary crashes do not occur.

As other cars and trucks roll past, the men and women assisting with the aftermath of a crash must depend on careful drivers for their own safety.

This year, organizers of National Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week are sharing this urgent message with the slogan: “Slow Down. Move Over. Be Safe.”

During the week of November 9–15, the group will highlight the need for drivers to stay alert. They also are asking motorists to drive carefully in appreciation for the work of first responders and those who died on the roads in the line of duty.

In the very stressful and often confusing moments that follow a crash, everyone is encouraged to use caution. When drivers don't pay attention to the road or when they drive aggressively, first responders’ lives are put at risk. Last year, 44 crash-site responders died nationally while trying to help motorists and/or manage incident sites, according to the Emergency Responder Safety Institute. Another 39 have died so far this year, as of mid-October. Many more have been badly injured.

The national Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Network is sponsoring and promoting the recognition week by offering educational materials and videos with titles such as “Leave Your Phone Alone” and “It's No Picnic Out Here.”

To learn more about the extensive efforts of the Florida Department of Transportation’s Traffic Incident Management Network, please visit:

• www.fdot.gov/traffic/traf-incident/traf-incident.shtm
• www.floridatim.com/