Massive Overhaul of I-4 Through Orlando Started

[Otter49]

A few things on this topic -

Exit 3 from the 417 to Osceola Pkwy is definitely preferable to exit 6 for Disney. The World Dr./Int'l Drive area near the 417 has been a real tangled mess lately - don't know why.

The $5 sunpass unit can be purchased at Publix, Walgreen's, CVS and AAA. As someone said, this unit is not transferrable from one vehicle to another.

DME buses seem to use both World Drive and Osceola Pkwy to get to the 417.

Most of you probably know about the 511 traffic info system. Once you get to Fla, call the number and name the highway you want info for. I've found it to be reasonably accurate and it can help making decisions on your route.

 

[Judique]

The $5 sticker Sunpass can also be purchased online and mailed to you. This is probably a good idea for many as when you buy it at the Welcome Centers and other places, you still have to go on the website and sign up and upload some money ($10) to it.

Just one other preplanning thing to get out of the way before actually going to Florida.

Now if I could only find where I saved mine.....should have stuck it to the windshield instead of just holding it up....

 

[capegirl]

I am so glad I found this thread, as we are doing a Disney road trip in April. I just called AAA for our TripTik, and I asked for alternate routes to avoid the construction. The AAA rep who I spoke with seemed very surprised, as there was nothing noted in their system about road construction on I-4.
Thank goodness for the Dis, and all of these informative posts; at least we'll be prepared!

 

[CyndiLooWho]

When I go to Florida's 511 website, I don't see any construction between WDW and USF. Is that accurate?

 

[atricks]

When I go to Florida's 511 website, I don't see any construction between WDW and USF. Is that accurate?

That's correct, the construction STARTS by Universal at Kirkman Rd. and goes north/east to Longwood, it won't touch the area between Disney and Universal at all.

If you are coming from the Disney area, you get off the exit before the construction starts to go to Universal, and going back that way also avoids it.

The only construction I've seen (And I drive from the Universal Area north almost to the end of the construction zone in Maitland and back nearly every day.) is some retention ponds being adjusted along the sides, right at Michigan St exdit. They haven't started on road construction at all yet. I suspect it'll come soon enough, though.

The website for the big project is http://i4ultimate.com

 

[CyndiLooWho]

That's correct, the construction STARTS by Universal at Kirkman Rd. and goes north/east to Longwood, it won't touch the area between Disney and Universal at all.

If you are coming from the Disney area, you get off the exit before the construction starts to go to Universal, and going back that way also avoids it.

The website for the big project is http://i4ultimate.com

Cool. We're staying at WBC and heading to the Darkside this vacation. Our route from KY never includes I-4, but we generally are on the interstate to get to Universal. Nice to know it's not affected.

Thanks!

 

[dreamerAl]

What is the interchange status at boggy creek. Is it completed

 

[ilovethisplace]

So we're thinking of driving down next month during our school's spring break from MA (week of April 19th) and I'd really like to avoid this area. I went to a basketball game at Bethune-Cookman (Daytona Beach) last month on Presidents Day and from DTD it took 2:15 to go 75 miles without construction and on a holiday no less! After being in the car for 12-14 hours I would imagine sitting in traffic is the last thing I would want when we hit Orlando. Normally we'd take 95 and jump on 4 in Daytona. Are we better off staying on 95 and grabbing 528 at the space coast and taking it to 417? It is about 30 miles longer but if it saves considerable time I'd certainly do it. I haven't driven to FL in 20 years and I pledged I'd never do it again but the airfares are astronomical so it's either drive or stay home.

 

[OKW Lover]

So we're thinking of driving down next month during our school's spring break from MA (week of April 19th) and I'd really like to avoid this area. I went to a basketball game at Bethune-Cookman (Daytona Beach) last month on Presidents Day and from DTD it took 2:15 to go 75 miles without construction and on a holiday no less! After being in the car for 12-14 hours I would imagine sitting in traffic is the last thing I would want when we hit Orlando. Normally we'd take 95 and jump on 4 in Daytona. Are we better off staying on 95 and grabbing 528 at the space coast and taking it to 417? It is about 30 miles longer but if it saves considerable time I'd certainly do it. I haven't driven to FL in 20 years and I pledged I'd never do it again but the airfares are astronomical so it's either drive or stay home.

Rather that stay on I-95 all the way down to 528, go ahead and get on I-4 but switch to 417 as you approach the Sanford area.

 

[awilliams4]

Coming 95 South, I have driven straight through from VA to WDW in 12 hours or less about 15 times now. I have only ever drove in going 95 to 4 to WDW. I just google earthed 417 and it sure does seem it goes a bit out of the way to get to WDW. Do most that know this route believe it will be faster to go this way during construction or just as long but more pleasant?

 

[ParrotBill]

Coming 95 South, I have driven straight through from VA to WDW in 12 hours or less about 15 times now. I have only ever drove in going 95 to 4 to WDW. I just google earthed 417 and it sure does seem it goes a bit out of the way to get to WDW. Do most that know this route believe it will be faster to go this way during construction or just as long but more pleasant?

When I-4 is clear with no delays, it is faster. Any delay at all and 417 is equal or faster. Remember 417 cruises at 65mph and very little traffic. During a rush hour slow down you can easily see 15-40 minute delays on I-4 so 417 is way faster for those times. We are expecting that construction will create these conditions for many more hours of the days now. But you'll always have to check traffic to know at any given time.

 

[baggs32]

So why isn't anyone getting off of 417 at 528 (exit 26) and heading back over to 4 that way? Wouldn't that be shorter and faster than staying on 4 all the way down to exit 6? We drove down last June from PA and it was a breeze but when we go back this October this construction will be in full swing and I want to avoid any time consuming delays where possible.

 

[cranbiz]

6 of one, half dozen of the other. I always felt that 528 from 417 was the better route money wise but ease of access, 417 takes you down to I4 right around World Dr or you get off for Osceola Parkway or World Center Dr. All of those (well World center Dr isn't the best) are easy access to WDW. Taking 528 means you can get off onto I Drive and easily access Sea World but need to drive down I4 to A) SR535, merge into traffic and enter thru BVD and the mess at DTD, B) Epcot Center Dr or C) Osceola Parkway.

Being as I was a local boy for a while, I was cheap and tried to pay as few tolls as possible. Timewise, it's best to use 417.

 

[Disneychick75]

Would someone please tell me if it's better to take 417 from MCO? Also, if we do take this road, is it best that we take Exit 3? I'm very confused by all of the highway numbers posted. Thanks!

 

[KEVD]

In Massachusetts, when they do construction work on the highways, they often do most of the work during the night time hours after about 9pm in order to avoid creating major tie ups during the day. So, it's not uncommon for highways to be down to one lane at night during major construction and that and that is when backups are at their worst. Does anyone know if FL does this? We land at MCO Sat 4-18 aroudn 9:30p.

We are staying in Kissimmee so we will likely just take 417 to be on the safe side.

 

[cranbiz]

Much of the Highway work in FL is done at night because the temperatures are cooler than mid day.

 

[AliciaS]

Does anyone know if any lanes will be closed on a Saturday? We are planning on going through that area around 1-2 tomorrow (YAY!) afternoon, but if we need to switch over to 417, we can. Google Maps said 417 was half-an-hour longer, but they aren't factoring in construction. We usually drive South on 95 and then over on I-4. Thanks for any insight!!

 

[ParrotBill]

Impossible to say for any given Saturday! There are night time ramp closures now. Eventually, they will have long term lane closures and shifts and all traffic will be affected. Rush hour will go from awful to impossible and alternate routes will be necessary. Remember this will be done over several years!

Always watch traffic (google maps, for example, or radio) as you approach and review what is posted at http://i4ultimate.com/

 

[thepops]

So if I was going back to Sanford to catch the Autotrain from WDW, would Beachline over to 417 be the best way to avoid this mess?

 

[capegirl]

Hi all! We are hitting the road tomorrow afternoon from MA, and I have a quick question. We are staying at Shades of Green, across the street from the Poly. I'm not sure why, but my
AAA TripTik, is telling me to take exit 67 off I-4, which I believe is the Epcot/ DTD exit. After reading about the traffic congestion / construction near DTD, I really would rather avoid this area entirely. That said, would it make more sense to take 64B, since Shades is in the MK resort area? We're getting down to the wire and now I'm freaking out about small details.