ORLANDO, Fla. – Work on I-4 continues to move forward, but drivers worry about increased traffic as construction is coupled with the opening of a new theme park.
As part of I-4 Beyond the Ultimate, a new I-4 westbound exit opened over the weekend at Sand Lake Road, bringing the westbound I-4 exit ramp closer to the overpass and helping to ease congestion at the surrounding intersections by creating greater distance between the I-4 ramps and local roads.
Residents have mixed feelings about the ongoing construction. Natasha Hines, who lives nearby, expressed her frustration.
“Horrible, horrible. I see a lot of accidents. It takes forever to get home. Forever to get on there. It’s horrible,” she told News 6.
Jared Figueroa, another local, acknowledged the challenges but remains optimistic.
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“I mean, it’s hectic, but I’m excited for it to get done,” he said.
I-4 Beyond the Ultimate aims to enhance the gateway to some of Central Florida’s biggest attractions, making it larger and more efficient. Last year, the diverging diamond on Sand Lake Road opened, eliminating left turns and increasing the intersection’s capacity.
Despite the progress, many residents feel the construction is an inconvenience.
“It’s the time when you get off and you have to sit, literally, it’ll take sometimes 20 to 30 minutes, before you can even get on to I-4,” Hines said.
“It feels kind of like I’m wasting my time with all the time I just spend sitting in traffic there,” Oliver Madej said.
The project is slated to be done in 2027.
As work continues this week, there will be overnight closures on I-4 between Kirkman Road and S.R. 528 interchanges until 6 a.m. on Friday.
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