FAQs

The I-4 Ultimate project is more than 21 miles from west of Kirkman Road in Orange County to east of State Road 434 in Seminole County.

The total estimated cost of design and construction for this project is more than $2.3 billion in year-of-expenditure dollars.

• A complete reconstruction of I-4 within the existing right-of-way.
• 15 major interchanges are undergoing complete reconstruction.
• 74 bridges are being replaced, 13 bridges are being widened, and 53 new bridges are being added.
• Four new express lanes, two in each direction, will be added to the center of I-4.
• Improved design will result in raising the speed limit from 50 to 55 mph in certain areas.

• Keeping the original number of travel lanes open during peak travel times.
• Limiting lane closures on I-4 to mostly overnight hours, beginning as early as 8:30 p.m. and re-opening as late as 7:00 a.m.
• Not closing consecutive interchanges at the same time.
• Providing advance construction alerts to keep motorists and emergency personnel informed about upcoming closures.
• Cooperating with FDOT’s Regional Transportation Management Center to provide real-time information about closures.

Express Lanes are an innovative solution to manage traffic congestion and provide choices for travelers. This project provides additional lanes with restricted access points, and dynamic toll pricing based on the level of congestion in the adjacent non-tolled general purpose lanes, to provide more reliable travel options for motorists.

The Express Lanes are scheduled to be opened to the public in 2021. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is in the process of determining tolling policies and rates. What we do know at this early stage is that tolls will be collected electronically, similar to State Road 408, State Road 528 and Florida’s Turnpike. FDOT will set the rates, and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise will collect the tolls, which will be used to fund more than half of the project during the 40-year partnership. The cost of the tolls will vary based on demand. Rates will go up or down depending on the traffic volume and will be higher during peak periods when demand is greater and lower during non-peak periods when demand is less. Drivers will lock in their rates when they enter the Express Lanes and will be charged based on that rate. As we near project completion, more information about tolling will be available. Always remember that the general use lanes will continue to be free, as they are today.

Read more about Express Lanes.

Dynamic toll pricing is based on congestion, which means the toll goes up or down depending on traffic volume. The toll will be higher during peak periods when demand for the Express Lanes is greater and lower during non-peak periods when the demand is less. This congestion pricing helps maintain traffic flowing freely by monitoring the number of vehicles accessing the Express Lanes.

The cost of the tolls varies based on demand, and FDOT — not the concessionaire — sets the rates to regulate demand and provide reliable travel times on I-4. The rate structure, which FDOT is currently developing, will be designed to help keep cars in the Express Lanes moving at 50 mph. As a comparison, drivers on 95 Express in Miami pay a minimum of $0.50 and a maximum of $10.50 to travel seven miles (that project will be 22 miles upon completion in 2015). 95 Express is maintained through dynamic, or “congestion,” pricing. The I-4 Ultimate Express Lanes will also be dynamic priced toll lanes, and the general use lanes will continue to be free, as they are today. Drivers will be able to enter and exit the Express Lanes in several locations along the 21-mile project zone, so not only is the toll based on congestion but also the distance the driver travels.

The Express Lanes will be open for use by the majority of drivers who choose to enter the lanes. All buses will be allowed to use the Express Lanes, and public transit and school buses will be exempt from paying a toll. Motorcycles and trucks with two axles will also be permitted in the Express Lanes.
There are a few vehicle types that will be prohibited from using the lanes. At this time, heavy trucks will not be allowed in the Express Lanes. The types of trucks permitted in the Express Lanes are part of an ongoing discussion at the state level and may be based on the number of axles or weight. No trailers of any kind will be permitted, regardless of the type of vehicle towing it. As we get closer to the project start date, more information will become available.

Express Lanes are currently operating successfully on I-95 in Miami and on I-595 in Fort Lauderdale. Managed lanes projects are also currently under development across the state, including I-75 in South Florida.

Express Lanes also have been added to State Road 528/Beachline Expressway in Central Florida and on the Veterans Expressway in Tampa.

I-4 Beyond the Ultimate includes plans to improve I-4 20 miles in either direction of I-4 Ultimate — to the west from U.S. 27 in Polk County to Kirkman Road, and to the east from State Road 434 to State Road 472 in Volusia County. I-4 Beyond the Ultimate will take a phased approach to I-4 improvements, addressing the areas with the most urgent needs first. For more on current and future construction projects within I-4 Beyond the Ultimate, visit I4Beyond.com.

Wekiva Parkway Section 8, which will complete the western beltway around Orlando, includes improvements to I-4 between County Road (C.R.) 46A and State Road (S.R.) 46 in Seminole County.

The project is currently estimated to be designed, built and opened to the public in 2021

SunRail is Central Florida’s commuter rail system, connecting Volusia, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties, and is an option for commuters who live along the I-4 corridor and want an alternative to driving. SunRail trains arrive at each station every 30 minutes during peak service times — the morning and evening commute times. During non-peak periods, trains operate every two hours. Trains currently run Monday through Friday to serve a majority of commuters. Scheduled station departures for both northbound and southbound trains can be downloaded at SunRail.com.

LYNX is another option that commuters can use during construction. LYNX provides fixed-route and paratransit bus service to Central Florida residents throughout Orange, Seminole, and Osceola counties. For maps, schedules, and more information, please visit GoLYNX.com.

ReThink, a service of FDOT, is Central Florida’s resource for commuter options. Programs include ridematching — where commuters can connect with other commuters to share rides to work via carpooling and vanpooling — a refresher on biking and walking safety rules, the emergency ride home service and employer consulting services. For more information, visit www.reThinkYourCommute.com.

I-4 Ultimate is being built through a 40-year public-private partnership (P3) with a concessionaire responsible for funding the design and construction of the project. The concessionaire will earn payments during construction, final acceptance payments following construction and annual performance-based availability payments during the operations and maintenance period. The P3 mechanism allows FDOT to share financial risk with a team of private companies, who finance a portion of the project — much like a home mortgage. FDOT has committed public funds through its work program to finance a portion of the project. Federal, state, local and private funding sources that may be used to make payments to the P3 concessionaire include toll revenue, Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) and Florida’s Turnpike. Revenues from the express lanes will fund more than half of the project during the 40-year partnership.

There are numerous safeguards built into the partnering agreements that eliminate risk to Florida and ensure that the state, taxpayers and local communities will always be protected as they continue to benefit from I-4 Ultimate. That being said, you should not be concerned about I-4 Ultimate not reaching completion. The funds for construction were secured and committed upfront, prior to the start of construction, according to strict terms set by the lenders. The project is fully funded, underway and on track for completion in 2021.

If your vehicle was damaged in the I-4 Ultimate construction zone, please complete a Public Incident Reporting Form and send a signed, notarized copy to SGL Constructors, c/o Joe Cosenzo, 1551 Sandspur Road, Suite 200, Maitland, FL 32751. The claim must include all supporting documents, such as photos, police reports and witness statements. Upon receipt of your documents, SGL or their insurance representative will contact you, investigate the matter and review all available relevant evidence, including, but not limited to, construction reports and service patrol logs. Drivers are also encouraged to report maintenance issues such as potholes or debris by calling 844-865-2674.

A public-private partnership (P3) is a contractual agreement between a public agency, in this case FDOT, and a private sector proposer or bidder known as the concessionaire, in this case I-4 Mobility Partners. P3s transfer some of the responsibilities, risks and/or rewards of project ownership from the public sector to a private entity for a fixed period of time.

FDOT didn’t have enough funding available for the I-4 Ultimate project. In fact, FDOT had approximately half of the $2.3 billion needed for the project in 2014. Due to inflation and increases in fuel efficiency, FDOT is unable to keep pace with growing demands on the statewide interstate system. A public-private partnership (P3) allows FDOT to bring this project to the public now to meet current needs. An analysis was done showing if we built the project as funding became available, it would take 27 years to complete. By using the P3 procurement method, we are designing and constructing in less than seven years.

The benefits of a P3 include encouraging long-term efficiency and service quality, accelerating the construction schedule, providing a mechanism to finance project funding shortfalls and allowing FDOT and the traveling public to benefit from lifecycle cost optimization and technical innovation from the industry. P3 procurement allows the I-4 Ultimate project to be built 17 years earlier than traditional funding methods.

A concessionaire is typically a private sector firm (or firms) formed by one or more investors to design, build, finance, operate and maintain a facility under a contractual agreement with a public entity. The concessionaire team will also include key subcontractors, including the project designer, builder and operator, who may or may not be investors in the concessionaire team. The concessionaire team for the I-4 Ultimate project is I-4 Mobility Partners.

The Best Value Proposal team, I-4 Mobility Partners, features two equity members: Skanska Infrastructure Development Inc., a Swedish company founded in 1887, and John Laing Investments Limited, which opened its doors in England in 1848. Both companies are leaders in privately financed infrastructure and will be the financial arm of the I-4 Ultimate project. The team also features several United States-based firms with local Orlando offices, including Skanska USA Civil Southeast Inc.; Granite Construction Company; The Lane Construction Corporation; HDR Engineering, Inc.; Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. and Infrastructure Corporation of America (ICA).

FDOT and its Construction Oversight Services (COS) team (composed of HNTB, Elipsis Engineering & Consulting, the Corradino Group and New Millennium, among other companies) oversee the concessionaire, ensuring they are adhering to all requirements in the contract through regular check-ins and audits of processes and procedures, and regular reviews of materials and workmanship.

FDOT retains ownership of the interstate in all P3 agreements. Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, a part of FDOT, collects tolls for FDOT on I-4 Ultimate.

FDOT is committed to continuing its efforts to keep Central Floridians up-to-date on the short-term impacts of I-4 construction and the long-term benefits of I-4 Ultimate. This website is the central portal for project information. From here, anyone can sign up for the newsfeed, monthly e-newsletter, and advance construction alerts. Businesses, homeowners associations, civic groups, and others can request an I-4 Ultimate speaker for an upcoming meeting. I-4 Ultimate representatives also attend local events to distribute information to attendees. Information about closures and detours is available also on Twitter: @I4Ultimate.

FDOT recommends you investigate public transit options, including SunRail and LYNX, and other commuter alternatives, including carpooling, vanpooling, ridesharing, telecommuting, and flexible work schedules. If other options are not feasible, FDOT recommends signing up for advance construction alerts so you are better informed about upcoming construction activities.

You can contact the following FDOT project personnel for additional information: Jessica Ottaviano, FDOT District 5 Communications Specialist, at 386-943-5473, or David Parks, I-4 Ultimate Community Outreach Specialist, at 1.844.ULT.INFO (858.4636) or email: DavidParks@i4ultimate.com. You can also submit your comments and questions or receive the latest information by visiting Contact Us.