ORLANDO, Fla. — Construction begins this month on a $218.7 million project to widen State Road 408 approaching Interstate 4, a move officials say will ease heavy congestion in downtown Orlando.

What You Need To Know

Construction will add a fifth eastbound lane to SR-408 to match the highway’s western segments and reduce morning rush-hour delays

The project will reconstruct and lengthen ramps at Tampa Avenue and Rio Grande Avenue to improve traffic flow near Camping World Stadium

It’s set to redesign the interchange area to eliminate “weaving” between SR-408, Orange Blossom Trail, and I-4

The project will include new lighting, landscaping, and sidewalk upgrades on Tampa, Carter, Long, and Rio Grande avenues

The Central Florida Expressway Authority project will add an eastbound lane from Church Street to I-4, creating “lane continuity” to improve the daily commute for more than 115,000 daily drivers. It’s one of the busiest roads in Central Florida.

“It’s crazy because (the congestion) slows down traffic, slows down and stops at certain points,” said Rudi Cuellar, who travels on SR-408 often for work as a locksmith. “So you have to include that in your travel schedule. Just make the extra time.”

During the morning rush, drivers are going 10 to 15 miles per hour slower than the posted 60-mph speed limit.

Now the Central Florida Expressway Authority is trying to ease those backups.

“That will have lane continuity, meaning they’ll have the same number of lanes to the west end of our system on State Road 408 all the way to I-4. So that will improve their daily commutes,” said Brian Hutchings, senior manager of community relations for the Central Florida Expressway Authority.

The project includes improvements to local roads surrounding SR-408, including Tampa Avenue, Carter Street, Long Street and Rio Grande Avenue, near Camping World Stadium.

“Folks that attend events there will have a much easier time getting into the stadium and then getting out,” Hutchings said. “We’re going to have new reconstructed ramps in that area, and there’ll be longer ramps. So that will help get the traffic off the local roads and free up those local roads during the events.”

Crews will work to eliminate the weaving that currently happens at SR-408 ramps at Tampa Avenue, Orange Blossom Trail and I-4, an often-tricky spot, according to Cuellar.

“You have to keep a sharp eye out,” he said.

Cuellar said he thinks the project, which will wrap up in 2029, will help.

“Any extra lanes will relieve some of the congestion,” he said, “but it’s still going to be crowded.”

A public meeting, where you can learn more about the construction, is set for 5:30 p.m. April 14 at the Jones High School cafeteria in Orlando.

There will also be a virtual meeting where interested parties can view the presentation and submit written comments and questions from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. April 14. Pre-register here.

The expressway authority is also looking to widen SR-408 on the east side of I-4.