ORLANDO, Fla. – Construction crews shifted a busy Orlando Interstate 4 exit ramp into its final configuration for the I-4 Ultimate Project, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
The I-4 eastbound exit to South Street (Exit 82B), and eastbound entrance ramps from Kaley Avenue and Michigan Street have changed. Changes will also be implemented to the eastbound on-ramp from Orange Blossom Trail.
The best advice is for drivers to slow down and take their time getting around these changes. Lots of new ramps, exits have shifted and people may not be used to it.
The changes are part of a larger plan to improve I-4.
“Tack on maybe 15 minutes anywhere I need to go,” said driver Kyle Enriquez. “Has me not leaving house nearly as much as I used to."
Right now, drivers are trying their best to get the hang of lots of changes happening on I-4 that went into effect this weekend.
“Especially when I have to be at work at Disney all the time, it’s like, ‘Come on now, you’re just making it harder,’” said driver Chris Chester.
Changes include:
- The eastbound I-4 exit ramp to South Street, currently combined with the eastbound I-4 exit to State Road 408, is shifting into its final alignment as soon as Saturday morning. The new exit point begins approximately a quarter of a mile farther east than the current exit location. The exit to S.R. 408 will not change.
- The eastbound I-4 entrance ramp from Michigan Street will close as soon as Friday. Drivers wanting to access eastbound I-4 will need to use the new temporary entrance ramp to eastbound I-4 from Kaley Avenue scheduled to open Saturday morning.
- The entrance ramp to eastbound I-4 from Orange Blossom Trail also is shifting slightly from its current location by Sunday morning. Motorists using this ramp will now need to be in the left lane after crossing Michigan Street to continue to eastbound I-4.
Driver Alex Scott said he avoids the interstate because of all of the construction and changes.
“We always take back roads. We don’t ever hit I-4 because ain’t nothing but trouble. Constant trouble,” Scott said.
I-4 Ultimate officials said the temporary configurations of the Kaley Avenue, Michigan Street and Orange Blossom Trail ramps will be in place for approximately one year to allow crews to safely construct permanent eastbound I-4 lanes.