ORLANDO, Fla. – The gates to Universal’s Epic Universe are finally open, and so far, the roads around the highly anticipated theme park are holding up.
The opening marks a milestone not just for the theme park itself, but also for the county and state, which have poured millions into expanding and improving the infrastructure leading to the resort. From widened surface streets to enhancements on I-4, the roadwork has been years in the making — with some still under construction.
News 6 drove the area near Epic Universe Thursday morning and found a steady flow of traffic near key intersections like Universal Boulevard and Kirkman Road, which officials expect to be one of the busiest corridors. Despite the crowds, traffic remained smooth and manageable.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has not reported any major traffic issues but says extra patrols are now in place to help manage the influx of visitors.
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“I work there, so great!” said one park employee when asked how traffic has been on opening day. “It’s been easy.”
Visitors are arriving from all over—including international travelers. One tourist visiting from the United Kingdom told News 6 the roads were surprisingly calm, despite the buzz around the new park.
“We only arrived Sunday,” she said. “It’s not been too bad. We’ve already done a couple of parks, and it’s been OK.”
In addition to improvements by city and state officials, Universal also added new lanes and signage around the resort to help alleviate congestion, and on day one, it seems to be paying off.
Still, deputies are reminding drivers to plan ahead and expect heavier traffic throughout the week as Epic Universe continues to draw large crowds.