Best way to avoid gridlock on I4?

[MsThumper]

I know this is a really old thread, but I'm wondering if the advice to take 417 to avoid I4 is still correct? I know there's been a lot of construction lately, so I just want to map things out as best I can. I want to avoid the madness of I4 there around Orlando if possible. It seems like no matter what time of day we roll through, we are almost rear ended/in lots of close calls just from the madness of everyone coming at you.

One huge question though: google maps shows 417 going over Lake Jessup. How big/long/high is that bridge? I literally have panic attacks when on high bridges (let's not talk about the ginormous bridge on 295!) so this is a very important question to me.

Thanks all!

We live in Daytona Beach and drive over to Disney and/or a relative's house several times a year. We avoid I-4 at all costs. We take sr 415 out of Daytona Beach, then get on 417 at Sanford. The bridge at Lake Jessup is very low, not very much higher than the water level. I don't even think any type of boat would be able to get under it. It is about 1 1/2 miles long. I don't like high bridges either and this one doesn't bother me at all.

The St. Johns river bridge, on I-4 is much higher than the Lake Jessup bridge.

 

[chewysmom]

Thank you MsThumper! That put my mind at ease.

 

[sharadoc]

I know this is a really old thread, but I'm wondering if the advice to take 417 to avoid I4 is still correct? I know there's been a lot of construction lately, so I just want to map things out as best I can. I want to avoid the madness of I4 there around Orlando if possible. It seems like no matter what time of day we roll through, we are almost rear ended/in lots of close calls just from the madness of everyone coming at you.

One huge question though: google maps shows 417 going over Lake Jessup. How big/long/high is that bridge? I literally have panic attacks when on high bridges (let's not talk about the ginormous bridge on 295!) so this is a very important question to me.

Thanks all!

I didn't even know what you meant about a lake even though we've been taking 417 since it opened lol. I know the bridge phobia thing, and I didn't really notice that we went over water.

One tip, don't listen to your GPS when you get onto 417 or it will continuously tell you to exit and then turn around to get back to I-4. Just know that you're on 417 until it ends and you're fine.

There are SunPass lanes, cash lanes and exact change lanes. We save up our nickels and dimes and get rid of them in the exact change lanes, which is fun.