ORLANDO, Fla. — While plans are in the works to expand Interstate 4 Express where the toll lanes currently end, one Central Florida driver wants to know why FDOT didn’t build more express ramps at the State Road 408 interchange. 

What You Need To Know

  • Jeff Terito says direct connect ramps from State Road 408 to I-4 Express would be helpful in his commute

  • Terito says getting from State Road 408 to I-4 Express is challenging

  • There are direct ramps from I-4 Express to State Road 408, but not the other way around

  • FDOT says budget, timeline and space within right of way prevented State Road 408 ramps to I-4 Express

Jeff Terito often travels on SR-408 to get to I-4. Where there are direct connect ramps from I-4 Express to State Road 408, there are no ramps from State Road 408 to I-4 Express.

“I-4 is usually backed up in the morning, so it backs up onto (State Road 408),” Terito said. “There should be a direct connector to I-4 Express,” he said.

An FDOT spokesperson says the direct connect ramps from the 408 to I-4 weren’t possible because of the budget, timeline and space within FDOT’s right of way.

However, Terito noticed a spot where FDOT could have built the ramps.

“If you noticed in between the exit for I-4 east, you’ll see the road kind of continues, but there’s a barrier there that stops it,” Terito said. “So obviously something was supposed to go there.”

FDOT said the spot that Terito noticed was built before I-4 Ultimate, and was kept for structural reasons.

However, without the direct connect ramp, Terito said he has to battle downtown Orlando congestion to get into the express lanes once he exits State Road 408.

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