MAITLAND, Fla. – Groundbreaking on a $2.3 billion project to redo a 21-mile stretch of I-4 from the Kirkman Road interchange all the way to State Road 434 in Longwood is underway on Tuesday.
[THE BIG DRIVE: PICS: Gov. Scott at groundbreaking | ClickOrlando.com page | Traffic map | I-4 Ultimate]
Recommended Videos
31318750
The Department Of Transportation tells Local 6 that it moved the groundbreaking up to Tuesday because Gov. Rick Scott will be in Central Florida.
Scott made an announcement about transportation at the Maitland I-4 interchange.
"Today, I'm proud to announce that we have broken ground on the I-4 Ultimate project, a $2.3 billion investment that will dramatically improve and expand the I-4 corridor in the Orlando area," Scott said in a release. "The I-4 Ultimate project will reduce congestion while continuing to make our roadways better, safer and easier for Florida families and our visitors."
Construction on the I-4 project will last six years, and the entire project will be worked on simultaneously.
According to project spokesman David Parks, the first phase will involve preparation, including putting up more warning signs, clearing vegetation and creating erosion zones to keep dirt and debris off the roadway.
The project will add two new tolled Express Lanes in each direction on I-4, replace more than 140 bridges, reconfigure 15 major interchanges and reconstruct the existing roadway.
Watch Local 6 News and stay with ClickOrlando.com for more on this story.