Photos Show How Major Florida Highway Will Change by End of 2026
April 15, 2025
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Drivers navigating Interstate 4 near Central Florida’s tourist hubs will soon see major improvements, as the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) accelerates its “Moving I-4 Forward” initiative. The state-backed infrastructure overhaul will add lanes, rebuild interchanges and alleviate congestion through key sections of one of the nation’s busiest travel corridors.
Governor Ron DeSantis has championed the project as part of the broader “Moving Florida Forward” transportation package. FDOT will have some new lanes open at the end of this month, eight months ahead of schedule, which lays the groundwork for future projects.
Photos provided to Newsweek show the changes that are being made.
Why It Matters
Congestion along I-4 has long frustrated residents and tourists. The corridor’s proximity to major attractions like Walt Disney World compounds rush-hour backups, which cost commuters significant time. According to data cited by Spectrum News 13, drivers heading westbound on I-4 at 5 p.m. between State Road 528 and State Road 429 lost 124 hours to traffic in 2023 alone.
With average daily traffic volumes exceeding 140,000 vehicles in some sections, according to FDOT figures reported by Spectrum News 13, the initiative targets immediate and systemic congestion issues.
What to Know
The “Moving I-4 Forward” initiative includes five major construction projects.
When reached for comment, DeSantis’ press office directed Newsweek to a press release about the announcement.
“We launched the Moving Florida Forward initiative to accelerate major transportation projects that reduce congestion and improve connectivity,” DeSantis said in the press release. “With nearly 700 projects underway and $75 billion in infrastructure investment since 2019, we’re delivering real results for Floridians and keeping Florida moving.”
Accelerated Start
The first of the five major construction projects, deemed the “Accelerated Start,” involves adding two new general-use lanes—one in each direction—east of U.S. 27 in Polk County to World Drive in Osceola County. This project was originally supposed to open by the end of 2025, but on Monday, DeSantis announced it would open on April 28, eight months ahead of schedule.
A rendering from the Florida Department of Transportation shows what the improvements to I-4 could look like during part of the Accelerated Start project. A rendering from the Florida Department of Transportation shows what the improvements to I-4 could look like during part of the Accelerated Start project. Florida Department of Transportation
Other projects in the Accelerated Start phase include expanding I-4 to accommodate up to 12 total lanes at the ChampionsGate Boulevard and World Drive interchanges, including eight general use lanes and four express lanes for future use.
A rendering from the Florida Department of Transportation shows the improvements that will be made to I-4 and World Drive interchange. A rendering from the Florida Department of Transportation shows the improvements that will be made to I-4 and World Drive interchange. Florida Department of Transportation
This phase is anticipated to be complete by 2026.
This graphic from FDOT shows what changes will be done to I-4 during the Accelerated Start phase. This graphic from FDOT shows what changes will be done to I-4 during the Accelerated Start phase. Florida Department of Transportation
Project 1 Phase
The Project 1 Phase will improve I-4 roadway safety and connectivity for 2.6 miles of roadway from east of World Drive to east of U.S. 192. Construction will take place simultaneously with Project 2 Phase, and will begin this year. More details regarding the timeline of Project 1 Phase will be shared at a later date, an FDOT spokesperson told Newsweek.
In Project 1, the result will be three general-use lanes and two new express lanes in each direction. New ramps will also connect the S.R. 417 toll to I-4 express lanes.
This graphic from FDOT show what changes will occur during Project 1 Phase. This graphic from FDOT show what changes will occur during Project 1 Phase. Florida Department of Transportation
Project 2 Phase
In the Project 2 Phase, I-4 improvements will be constructed for 3.1 miles of roadway from east of County Road 532 to west of World Drive in Osceola County. Improvements also will be made to the State Road 429 interchange with added ramps.
This project will include four general-use lanes and two express lanes in each direction. New ramps also are planned to connect the I-4 express lanes to State Road 429, and from the I-4 general-use lanes to the State Road 429 toll.
Other projects associated with this phase include widening Old Lake Wilson Road from Sinclair Road to Assembly Court.
This graphic shows what changes will be made during Project 2 Phase. This graphic shows what changes will be made during Project 2 Phase. Florida Department of Transportation
Future phases
The final three phases—Project 3 Phase, Project 4 Phase, and Project 5 Phase—will begin construction later this year or next year.
The Project 3 Phase will improve 3.4 miles of roadway from west of U.S. 27 to west of ChampionsGate Boulevard. Construction for this phase will begin in 2026. The project will add two express lanes in each direction on I-4. New ramps also will be added between the I-4 express lanes and U.S. 27.
Project 3 Phase will be under construction simultaneously with Project 4, which will add two express lanes in each direction for 2.1 miles of I-4 from west of Osceola Parkway to east of World Center Drive. New ramps also will be built between the express lanes and State Road 536. The I-4 bridges at the Osceola Parkway interchange over Bonnet Creek will be reconstructed.
The final phase is Project 5 Phase, which will begin construction this year. It will build a new road called the Poinciana Connector from County Road 532 to State Road 429. The new road will be built through “greenfield space,” FDOT said, which means the land hasn’t been developed.
The road will have three lanes in each direction, with the possibility to expand to four lanes. New ramps to Osceola Polk Line Road will be built.
What People Are Saying
FDOT said in a statement to WESH: “Normally, construction of this magnitude would take more than a decade to complete, however, through the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative, championed by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature, the Department is committed to completing this series of projects more than a decade ahead of schedule.”
Governor Ron DeSantis in a press conference announcing the project’s early completion: “We could just sit here and say, ‘Oh, we’re going to get to it. It’ll happen, it’s in the hopper. And all this stuff is eventually in the hopper, but what good does it do to break ground 10 years from now? We need to be breaking ground and bringing these projects to fruition now.”
He added: “That’s exactly what this initiative is doing today, eight months ahead of schedule. I think it’s a welcome announcement, but this is just one of many things that will be done to improve connectivity and mobility in and around the dreaded I-4 corridor.”
What Happens Next
Several phases of construction will take place during 2025, with others set to begin in 2026. The department estimates that the economic impact of Moving Florida Forward in the I-4 corridor alone will exceed $13 billion.
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