ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Work is underway to relieve congestion on a stretch of Interstate 4 from Universal Orlando down to Walt Disney World.

What You Need To Know

  • FDOT is building a single toll lane of I-4 West from Sand Lake Road to Epcot Center Drive called the “Tube”

  • The “Tube” will open to traffic in 2027

  • Due to funding, a matching I-4 East express lane in the same area isn’t being built right now

  • More express lanes are coming to Osceola and Polk counties

The Florida Department of Transportation is building a new toll express lane on I-4 West called the “Tube”.

The “Tube” will take drivers from where I-4 Express currently ends near Sand Lake Road down past Epcot Center Drive. Unlike the current I-4 Express, this new stretch of toll road will only be a single lane.

Drivers traveling in the attractions area can notice the work going on right now.

The project is being broken into three separate projects that will also see interchange improvements at Sand Lake Road and State Road 535, and a brand new interchange at Daryl Carter Parkway.

The “Tube” is expected to open in 2027.

FDOT doesn’t have the funding now to build a matching express lane for I-4 East in this area.

“FDOT’s approach to address immediate needs in the corridor was a determining factor in starting with the westbound express lane tube project first,” said Cindi Lane, public information director for FDOT District 5. “The area immediately west of the I-4 Ultimate project limits is experiencing congested conditions during peak periods. Without any improvements, extremely congested conditions are expected to occur in both the morning and evening peak periods, as shown by the projections of future population and employment increases in Central Florida. In the future, as additional funding is programmed, FDOT plans to build an eastbound express lane in this area.”

FDOT is also planning to build more express lanes farther south in Osceola and Polk counties.

Two toll lanes in each direction are coming to I-4 between Osceola Parkway and U.S. Highway 27.

Construction on the Osceola County portion begins in late 2024 or early 2025.

Area driver reacts to the news

Lindsey Barton uses I-4 Express to make deliveries for her flower shop.

“It’s a lot easier to get through," said the Bay Hill Florist owner. "There’s hardly ever any traffic whenever we’re on them, so I can get to and from my place a lot faster."

Drivers like Barton will take what they can get when it comes to congestion relief.

“I definitely think it would help traffic,” she said.