OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Interstate 4 in the ChampionsGate area is often called the busiest corridor in the country, with around 200,000 drivers traveling on the roadway daily. In 25 years, experts predict an additional 50,000 drivers will travel along that area.

“This is something I personally battle every day and thousands of other people,” said Matt Kenzig, who drives from his Auburndale home to his job at Orlando International Airport five days a week.

“I am pretty frustrated,” said Kenzig. “I wish the state would do something more.”

What You Need To Know

  • FDOT says construction will begin this month on two new lanes of I-4 in ChampionsGate area

  • The extra lane will be added in each direction from US-27 to World Drive

  • The “Congestion Relief Lanes” should open by the end of 2025

  • Express lanes and other improvements are coming after relief lanes are finished

The Florida Department of Transportation plans to spend $2.5 billion to add extra lanes — both free general use lanes — and tolled express lanes from US-27 in Polk County to World Center Drive in Orange County.

They expect the project to take a decade to complete.

“It should have been fixed years ago,” said Kenzig.

FDOT leaders plan to expedite part of the construction in 2025 by adding a “congestion relief lane” in each direction from US-27 to World Drive.

FDOT has a new website and video dedicated to Moving I-4 Forward.

Construction will begin in January and the two new lanes should open up to drivers by the end of this year.

“I think that would definitely give a lot of relief to the traffic — at least temporary until we get those express lanes,” said Kenzig.

FDOT leaders believe that an extra lane in each direction will be key, not only with congestion but also to help with traffic shifts needed during the larger, overall project proposed for the area.

After the two relief lanes open, additional accelerated work will be done to add pavement to expand I-4 at two interchanges: ChampionsGate Boulevard and World Drive.