ORLANDO, Fla. \u2014\u00a0Construction 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.<\/p>\n
What You Need To Know<\/p>\n
Construction will add a fifth eastbound lane to SR-408 to match the highway’s western segments and reduce morning rush-hour delays
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The project will reconstruct and lengthen ramps at Tampa Avenue and Rio Grande Avenue to improve traffic flow near Camping World Stadium
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It’s set to redesign the interchange area to eliminate “weaving” between SR-408, Orange Blossom Trail, and I-4
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The project will include new lighting, landscaping, and sidewalk upgrades on Tampa, Carter, Long, and Rio Grande avenues<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s crazy because (the congestion) slows down traffic, slows down and stops at certain points,\u201d said Rudi Cuellar, who travels on SR-408 often for work as a locksmith. \u201cSo you have to include that in your travel schedule. Just make the extra time.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the morning rush, drivers are going 10 to 15 miles per hour slower than the posted 60-mph speed limit.<\/p>\n
Now the Central Florida Expressway Authority is trying to ease those backups.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat 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,\u201d said Brian Hutchings, senior manager of community relations for the Central Florida Expressway Authority.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cFolks that attend events there will have a much easier time getting into the stadium and then getting out,\u201d Hutchings said. \u201cWe’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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to keep a sharp eye out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Cuellar said he thinks the project, which will wrap up in 2029, will help.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny extra lanes will relieve some of the congestion,\u201d he said, \u201cbut it’s still going to be crowded.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/a>\u00a0in Orlando.<\/p>\n