Editing Interstate 4 (section)

==Route description==
[[File:Westbound Interstate 4 in Tampa approaching Malfunction Junction 3.jpg|thumb|left|Approaching Malfunction Junction on westbound I-4]]
I-4 maintains a diagonal, northeast–southwest route for much of its length, although it is signed east–west. It roughly follows the original path of the [[South Florida Railroad]] built by [[Henry B. Plant]] in 1884.

The highway starts its eastward journey at an interchange with I-275—known as "Malfunction Junction"—near [[Downtown Tampa]] and is the starting point for [[milemarker]]s and [[exit number]]s (which are [[Mileage-based exit numbering|mileage-based]]). Just east of Malfunction Junction, I-4 passes along the north side of Tampa's [[Ybor City]] district, where a mile-long ({{Convert|1|mi|km|disp=output only}}) [[I-4/Selmon Expressway Connector|connector]] links to the [[Lee Roy Selmon Expressway]] (SR&nbsp;618) and [[Port Tampa Bay]].<!-- The connector has ramps onto SR618, but also ramps directly to surface streets near the port (intended for trucks and signed to the port) --> I-4 continues east past the [[Florida State Fairgrounds]] toward a [[turbine interchange]] (uncommon in the US)<ref>{{cite web |last1 = Boniface |first1 = Russell |title = Interchange |url = http://www.asce.org/cemagazine/Article.aspx?id=25769803777#.U_KcMmNrUhw |work = CE Magazine |publisher = American Society of Civil Engineers |access-date = August 19, 2014 |date = November 1, 2001 |quote = The turbine design, which is rare in the United States, is a first of its kind in North Carolina; another notable example exists at the interchange of I-4 and I-75 in Tampa, Florida. |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140819090758/http://www.asce.org/cemagazine/Article.aspx?id=25769803777 |archive-date = August 19, 2014 }}</ref> with I-75.

[[File:Emergency Shoulder Use Eastbound Interstate 4 Before Hurricane Irma.webm|thumb|Eastbound I-4 at US&nbsp;27 the afternoon before the arrival of [[Hurricane Irma]] on the Gulf Coast with [[emergency shoulder use]] to improve traffic capacity]]
After passing near the eastern suburbs of [[Hillsborough County, Florida|Hillsborough County]]—including [[Brandon, Florida|Brandon]] and [[Plant City, Florida|Plant City]]—it enters [[Polk County, Florida|Polk County]], where I-4 crosses along the north side of [[Lakeland, Florida|Lakeland]]. The [[Polk Parkway]] (SR&nbsp;570) forms a semi-loop through Lakeland's southern suburbs and returns to I-4 at the [[Florida Polytechnic University]] campus, near [[Polk City, Florida|Polk City]];<!-- The junction is sort of in the middle of nowhere...the university campus is very noticeable on the corner of the intersection while Polk City (only about 1000 residents) is a tiny town and basically just an exit with a couple gas stations & truck stop. --> it does not serve as a [[Bypass (road)|bypass route]] for I-4 traffic. Just after the western junction with the Polk Parkway, I-4 turns from an eastward to a northeastward heading. Between [[Florida State Road 33|SR&nbsp;33]] (at exit&nbsp;38<!-- there are two junctions with SR33...this is most concise way to note this because of wording of other exit's signage -->) and [[U.S. Route 27 in Florida|US&nbsp;27]], I-4 passes through the fog-prone [[Green Swamp (Florida)|Green Swamp]], although the landscape beside the highway is mostly forest as opposed to water-logged swampland. Ten [[variable-message sign]]s and dozens of cameras and vehicle detection systems monitor this stretch of mostly-rural highway as a result of several large, deadly [[pileup]]s caused by dense fog.<ref>{{cite news |last1 = Maready |first1 = Jim |title = One Year After Tragic I-4 Pileup, Questions Remain |url = http://www.theledger.com/article/20090108/news/901080410 |access-date = August 19, 2014 |work = Lakeland Ledger |date = January 9, 2009 |page = 2 |quote = The Florida Department of Transportation is in the process of installing 10 electronic signs...The system will also include a series of 22 cameras, which can be rotated, and 77 vehicle-detection systems, which will observe the amount of traffic and speed of the vehicles. |archive-date = August 19, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140819093715/http://www.theledger.com/article/20090108/news/901080410 |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1 = Chambliss |first1 = John |title = Fog Has Caused Deaths Before |url = http://www.ocala.com/article/20080114/NEWS/801140324?tc=ar |access-date = August 19, 2014 |work = Ocala Star Banner |date = January 14, 2008 }}</ref>

[[File:I-4 WB 1 mi to FL 535.jpg|thumb|left|I-4 westbound approaching SR&nbsp;535 in Lake Buena Vista]]
At mile&nbsp;57, I-4 enters [[Osceola County, Florida|Osceola County]] and, soon thereafter, intersects [[Greater Orlando]]'s beltways: the<!-- western expressway is complete as of April 2025 --> [[Western Expressway (Orlando)|Western Expressway]] (SR&nbsp;429) on the western side and the [[Central Florida GreeneWay]]<!-- yes, it has an extra 'e' --> (SR&nbsp;417) which rounds the eastern side before returning to I-4 in Sanford. Additionally, an exit to World Drive (signed as just "Disney World") runs north as a limited-access highway into [[Walt Disney World]] and an electric [[Mickey pylon|pylon]] in the shape of [[Mickey Mouse]] can be seen on the southwest corner of the intersection. The single Central Florida GreeneWay/World Drive exit (exit&nbsp;62) also marks an abrupt change from rural to suburban/urban landscape. The highway passes beside [[Celebration, Florida|Celebration]] and [[Kissimmee, Florida|Kissimmee]] on the east side and Walt Disney World (not visible) on the west side.<!-- Lake Buena Vista is basically a municipality comprising Disney World with no real population to speak of. -->
[[File:I-4 East - Orlando Downtown City Skyline (43720081585).jpg|thumb|Approaching Downtown Orlando on eastbound I-4 (photo prior to I-4 Ultimate improvements)]]
For the next {{convert|40|mi|km}},<!-- approximately exits 62-104--> I-4 passes through Greater Orlando, where the highway forms the main north–south artery. It enters [[Orange County, Florida|Orange County]], passes through Walt Disney World and by [[SeaWorld Orlando]] and [[Universal Orlando]], and intersects all of the area's major [[toll road]]s, including the [[Beachline Expressway]] (SR&nbsp;528), [[Florida's Turnpike]], and the [[East–West Expressway (Orlando)|East–West Expressway]] (SR&nbsp;408). Orlando's main [[tourist strip]]—[[International Drive]]—runs parallel and no more than {{Convert|1.5|mi|km}} from I-4 between Kissimmee and Florida's Turnpike. Between Michigan Street and Kaley Avenue (about mile&nbsp;81), I-4 turns due north (while still being signed east–west), heading past [[Downtown Orlando]] and its northern suburbs. A {{convert|21|mi|km|adj=on}} section of I-4 from west of SR&nbsp;435 to east of SR&nbsp;434 (miles&nbsp;75–96) underwent a $2.3-billion reconstruction, and was completed on February 26, 2022. This project replaced most bridges, changed the configurations of many intersections, and added two [[express toll lane]]s—named I-4 Express—in each direction.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=FAQs |url=http://www.moving-4-ward.com/about-the-project/faqs/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326101000/http://www.moving-4-ward.com/about-the-project/faqs/ |archive-date=March 26, 2014 |access-date=August 19, 2014 |website=I-4 Ultimate |publisher=Florida Department of Transportation}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=I-4 Express PD&E Study |url=http://www.i4express.com/ |access-date=August 19, 2014 |website=i4express.com |publisher=Florida Department of Transportation}}</ref>

After passing along the west side of Downtown Orlando, I-4 continues through the city's northern suburbs—including [[Winter Park, Florida|Winter Park]], [[Maitland, Florida|Maitland]], [[Altamonte Springs, Florida|Altamonte Springs]], and [[Sanford, Florida|Sanford]]. Around mile&nbsp;91, I-4 enters [[Seminole County, Florida|Seminole County]] and, soon thereafter, shifts to a northeast heading. The [[Seminole Expressway]] (SR&nbsp;417), after passing around the east side of Greater Orlando, has its northern terminus (exit&nbsp;101B) at I-4 in Sanford. This intersection will also connect with the [[Wekiva Parkway]] (SR&nbsp;429),<ref>{{cite web |title = Wekiva Parkway (SR&nbsp;429) Schedule |url = https://www.wekivaparkway.com/wpcms/data/img/uploads/files/Wekiva-Parkway-Schedule-1-2022.pdf |website = Wekiva Parkway |publisher = FDOT/CFX |access-date = September 17, 2022 }} </ref> at which point a full beltway (SR&nbsp;429/SR&nbsp;417; concurrent with I-4 for {{Convert|2|mi|km|disp=sqbr|spell=in}}) around Greater Orlando will be available. On October 21, 2022, the first part of this connection opened to traffic, with the westbound I-4 to southbound SR&nbsp;429 ramp opening to traffic, along with the section of the southbound lanes between the ramp and SR&nbsp;46.<ref name="first429">{{cite news |last1=Lehman |first1=Mark |title=Connection from I-4 to Wekiva Parkway opens |url=https://www.clickorlando.com/traffic/2022/10/20/state-readies-to-open-1st-connection-from-i-4-to-the-wekiva-parkway/ |access-date=October 22, 2022 |work = ClickOrlando |publisher=[[WKMG-TV]] |date=October 21, 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Florida I4eb End, Exit 132A.jpg|thumb|Eastern terminus of I-4 at I-95 in Daytona Beach]]
North of Sanford, I-4 is carried by the [[St. Johns River Veterans Memorial Bridge]] over the [[St. Johns River]] at the mouth of [[Lake Monroe (Florida)|Lake Monroe]]. Along the bridge, I-4 enters [[Volusia County, Florida|Volusia County]] and passes [[Deltona, Florida|Deltona]] and [[DeLand, Florida|DeLand]]. The segment north of [[Florida State Road 44|SR&nbsp;44]] has been widened from four to six lanes. Completed in winter 2016–2017,<ref>{{cite web |title = 408464-1 I-4 Widening from SR&nbsp;44 to East of I-95 |url = http://www.cflroads.com/project/408464-1/I-4_widening_from_SR_44_to_East_of_I-95 |website = Central Florida Roads |publisher = Florida Department of Transportation |access-date = August 19, 2014 |archive-date = August 19, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140819085201/http://www.cflroads.com/project/408464-1/I-4_widening_from_SR_44_to_East_of_I-95 |url-status = dead }}</ref> the entire length of I-4 has at least six lanes (three or more per direction). I-4 terminates at a junction with I-95 in Daytona Beach. [[Florida State Road 400|SR&nbsp;400]] continues east into Daytona Beach {{Convert|4|mi|km|spell=in}} to US&nbsp;1.

===Services===
I-4 has two pairs of [[rest area]]s, one near [[Polk City, Florida|Polk City]] and the other near [[Longwood, Florida|Longwood]]. At each location, there are separate facilities on opposite sides of the freeway that provide services to traffic in both directions. The rest areas all provide disabled facilities with restrooms, picnic tables, drinking water, pet exercise areas, outside night lights, telephones, vending machines, and nighttime security.<ref name="restareas">{{cite web |author = Staff |url = http://www.dot.state.fl.us/statemaintenanceoffice/Rest_Area_Listing.shtm |title = Florida's Rest Area, Service Plaza, Truck Comfort Station (WIM), and Welcome Center Locations |publisher = Florida Department of Transportation |access-date = February 3, 2013 |year = 2013 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130206121010/http://www.dot.state.fl.us/statemaintenanceoffice/Rest_Area_Listing.shtm |archive-date = February 6, 2013 |df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{google maps |url=https://maps.google.com/?ll=28.160514,-81.783793&spn=0.014472,0.027874&t=m&z=16 |title= Map of Polk County Rest Area vicinity |access-date= February 3, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{google maps |url= https://maps.google.com/?ll=28.723109,-81.363029&spn=0.057581,0.111494&t=m&z=14 |title= Map of Seminole County Rest Area vicinity|access-date=February 3, 2013 |link= no}}</ref>

FDOT closed a pair of rest areas at the Daryl Carter Parkway overpass (mile&nbsp;70) near [[Lake Buena Vista, Florida|Lake Buena Vista]] in early 1999 and replaced them with [[retention pond]]s to serve runoff from an additional lane in each direction of I-4.<ref>{{cite news |first = Jim |last = Stratton |work = Orlando Sentinel |url = https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2001/09/10/nowhere-to-rest-but-more-room-to-drive/ |title = Nowhere To Rest, But More Room To Drive |date = September 10, 2001 |access-date = March 9, 2014 |archive-date = March 9, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140309084147/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2001-09-10/news/0109100084_1_rest-areas-rest-stops-poles |url-status = live }}</ref> Another former rest area, without any bathrooms, existed on the eastbound side near mile&nbsp;127 in [[Volusia County, Florida|Volusia County]].<ref>[http://www.dot.state.fl.us/surveyingandmapping/Past_StateMap/Maps/FLStatemap1989-90.pdf Florida Official Transportation Map, 1989] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402094732/http://www.dot.state.fl.us/surveyingandmapping/Past_StateMap/Maps/FLStatemap1989-90.pdf |date=April 2, 2015 }}</ref>

A pair of [[weigh station]]s including [[weigh in motion]] scales is present at mile&nbsp;12 between Tampa and Plant City. They were opened in January 2009 to replace a pair just west of the [[Florida State Road 566|SR&nbsp;566]] interchange at mile&nbsp;19.<ref>{{cite news |first = Dave |last = Nicholson |work = [[Plant City Courier]] |url = http://tbo.com/plant-city/new-high-tech-weigh-stations-open-monday-on-i--109222 |title = New High-Tech Weigh Stations Open Monday On I-4 |date = January 2, 2009 |access-date = March 9, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140309083526/http://tbo.com/plant-city/new-high-tech-weigh-stations-open-monday-on-i--109222 |archive-date = March 9, 2014 |url-status = dead }}</ref>