OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Officials with the Florida Department of Transportation say they are considering adding I-4 Express toll lanes in Osceola County to help relieve traffic congestion.

What You Need To Know

  • FDOT officials say they have plans to unveil a proposal to expand I-4 Express

  • They say Osceola County may be next to get 1-4 Express toll lanes to help relieve congestion

  • Currently crews are adding an extra lane on both directions of I-4 near ChampionsGate

Experts say gridlock is a common sight on I-4 in Osceola County, especially near ChampionsGate.

“We are coming to the conclusion that it may make sense that instead of progressively moving south with I-4 Express, that we might need to jump down to Osceola County because of the congestion and the demands that we’re seeing in traffic down there,” FDOT District 5 Secretary John Tyler said at a December MetroPlan Orlando meeting.

Since opening in February 2022, FDOT officials say the addition of the toll lanes on I-4 in Orange and Seminole counties has helped relieve congestion on the main lanes of I-4 from Universal Orlando to Longwood.

“I use the express lanes,” said Dan Arvelo, the owner of a garage door repair business. “It gets me to the job site or wherever I want to go on time, if not early. I always say on time is the new late.”

Construction on a single toll lane on I-4 west is planned from where I-4 Express ends near Universal Orlando to down near Epcot Center Drive near Walt Disney World. FDOT is calling that project the “Tube.”

But state officials say expanding I-4 Express in other parts of Orange and Seminole counties may take a backseat to a yet to be released FDOT proposal that would bring the express lanes to Osceola County next.

“We need it here,” said Arvelo, who is based in Osceola County. “Doesn’t matter what time of day you come through here, there’s always going to be this kind of traffic.”

Arvelo doesn’t mind paying extra to use I-4 Express, if it means less time on the roads.

“If I can get home 15 to 20 minutes earlier, I get to spend time with my loved ones,” he said.

FDOT has an interim project to help relieve congestion in ChampionsGate — currently, crews are building an extra lane on both I-4 west and east in the ChampionsGate area to relieve some of the congestion.

Officials say the extra lanes are expected to open in the fall of 2024.