I-4 Ultimate project leads to other state road improvement plans

State officials said that with more people moving to Central Florida and a record number of tourists visiting, it’s the right time to invest in transportation improvement projects.

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Gov. Ron DeSantis is asking the legislature to approve a $4 billion investment from the budget reserves to address 20 critical infrastructure challenges across the state, including Central Florida.

First responders said projects like the I-4 Ultimate had increased safety.

Read: FDOT: I-4 Ultimate construction officially in the rearview

Traffic has also been less hectic during peak hours with the pay-to-ride express lanes.

But where the express lanes end, traffic still backs up from I-4 to US 27 ChampionsGate and Osceola Parkway.

Read: Prices to increase for drivers using I-4 Express lanes

“You’re not seeing any Florida Highway Patrol troopers doing speed details any day in that area,” Lt. Governor Jeanette Nunez said. “And that’s a challenge because this traffic builds up more, there are more possibilities of traffic crashes or frustration and road rage in those areas.”

Nunez highlighted the two proposed projects and 18 other Florida projects on Thursday.

These are part of Gov. DeSantis’s Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure initiative.

Read: Crews finish work on diverging diamond interchange at I-4 and ChampionsGate

The money would come from the state’s budget reserves to create $7 billion in funding to begin as soon as next year.

Osceola County Commissioner Cheryl Grieb said the projects for the Disney area of I-4 are much-needed, with the population growth and tourism.

Improvements on US-1 and Interstate 95 will soon occur in Volusia County, as well as Interstate 75 in Marion County.

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