I-4 Ultimate construction is ramping up again, and this time it’s prompting closures at one of the busiest interchanges in Central Florida.
- The I-4 Ultimate Improvement Project is a planned makeover of Interstate 4 in Central Florida.
Crews were scheduled to close the entrance ramp from Maitland Boulevard/State Road 414 to I-4 westbound at 10 o’clock Sunday night.
The entrance ramp closure will allow crews install a barrier wall. The work on the Maitland Boulevard interchange will eventually allow drivers to access I-4 without having to stop at stoplights.
The ramp will be closed nightly, from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. through Friday, July 24th.
Crews will also be closing one lane of westbound State Road 414/Maitland Boulevard from Hope Road to Gateway Drive from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Friday, August 14th. And crews will be intermittently closing the right lane of southbound Keller Road, south of Maitland Boulevard, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Friday, July 24th.
Franco Easterling runs a prepared-meal delivery service located not far from the Maitland Boulevard I-4 interchange. He said all of the closures could affect his delivery runs.
“One of the reasons we got this kitchen is because it’s close to I-4 and it was easy access,” said Franco Easterling.
But Easterling said his drivers, who deliver meals to people late into the evening, will now have to give themselves extra time to deal with the closures.
“Either drive all the way down to Lee Road, or take the overpass and go all the way down and get on I-4 … I don’t even know where. It’s going to be about 15 to 20 minutes out of our way,” said Easterling.
- News 13 is your source for the latest on the I-4 Ultimate Improvement Project.
When the entrance ramp is closed, FDOT suggests drivers go across the interstate, loop around Sandspur, Wymore and Hope Roads back to Maitland Boulevard, where they can then take the westbound Maitland Boulevard entrance ramp to I-4 westbound. That ramp is not currently scheduled for any closures.
Drivers who live in the area are planning on giving themselves a lot of extra time to get to where they need to go.
“You have to plan your day a lot better. I mean, this is going to be going on for the next several years, it’s not like a 30 day fix. Ultimately, I think it will be worth it,” said Douglas Mackemer.