Editing Interstate 4 (section)

==Future==

===I-4 Beyond the Ultimate===
I-4 Beyond the Ultimate, which includes proposed extensions of the I-4 Express toll lanes, both southwest and northeast of the I-4 Ultimate project, are being considered. In 2013, FDOT initiated a study to reevaluate previous feasibility studies, made between 1998 and 2005, in which the addition of HOV or express toll lanes were considered.<ref name="I-4 BU original documents">{{cite web |title = Original Documents |url = http://www.i4express.com/original_documents.shtm |website = Interstate 4 Beyond the Ultimate |publisher = Florida Department of Transportation |access-date = February 19, 2015 |archive-date = February 19, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150219135644/http://www.i4express.com/original_documents.shtm |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="I-4 BU FAQs" /> The extensions cover approximately {{convert|40|mi|km}} of I-4 through Greater Orlando. Southwest of the I-4 Ultimate, the study is examining an extension through Osceola County to US&nbsp;27 in Polk County. Northeast of the I-4 Ultimate, the study is examining an extension through Seminole County to SR&nbsp;472 in Volusia County.<ref name="I-4 BU FAQs">{{cite web |title = Frequently Asked Questions |url = http://www.i4express.com/project_faq.shtm |website = Interstate 4 Beyond the Ultimate |publisher = Florida Department of Transportation |access-date = February 19, 2015 |archive-date = February 15, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150215211851/http://i4express.com/project_faq.shtm |url-status = dead }}</ref>

In addition to these express lane extensions, many interchanges will be reconstructed as part of the project. Some of these reconstructed interchanges will be converted to [[diverging diamond interchange]]s, which are proposed at both [[County Road 532 (Osceola County, Florida)|CR&nbsp;532]] (exit&nbsp;58; implemented on July 10, 2022) and [[Florida State Road 482|SR&nbsp;482]] (exit&nbsp;74A; implemented on March 9, 2024). A brand new interchange at Daryl Carter Parkway is also proposed to be a diverging diamond.

Unlike I-4 Ultimate, where the {{convert|21|mi|km}} encompassed by that project were constructed at once, the {{convert|40|mi|km}} encompassed by I-4 Beyond the Ultimate will be constructed in phases.<ref>{{Cite web |title = Project Info & Map: Find out what's happening in your area. |url = https://i4beyond.com/project-info-map/ |access-date = October 2, 2022 |website = I-4 Beyond the Ultimate |language = en }}</ref>

As part of the "Moving Florida Forward" initiative, construction of I-4 widening between Championsgate and [[Osceola Parkway]] will add additional lanes on this 15-mile segment, which is expected to begin construction in late 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-03 |title=Construction to begin this year for I-4 widening project, DeSantis says |url=https://www.wfla.com/news/politics/gov-desantis-expected-to-sign-transportation-bill-in-polk-city/ |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=WFLA |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Additional express lanes===
Express toll lanes are also being considered for I-4 in the [[Tampa Bay area]]. In January 2015, FDOT unveiled its master plan for a system of express toll lanes—dubbed Tampa Bay Express (TBX)—on I-4, I-75, and I-275 and began public meetings for community input.<ref name="TBX first press release">{{cite press release |first = Kris |last = Carson |title = FDOT Media Advisory |url = http://www.tampabayexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/TBX-media-advisory.pdf |website = Tampa Bay Express |publisher = Florida Department of Transportation |access-date = February 19, 2015 |date = January 16, 2015 |archive-date = February 19, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150219150049/http://www.tampabayexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/TBX-media-advisory.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref> On I-4, these lanes would extend approximately {{convert|26|mi|km}} from I-275 to west of the Polk Parkway (SR&nbsp;570). At the junction with I-275, the initial concept alignment calls for a direct connection between the express toll lanes of both highways.<!-- but not at I-75, see http://www.tampabayexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/MP-8-2-of-3-I-75-S-OF-US-301-TO-N-OF-BBD-BLVD.compressed.pdf --><ref name="TBX Malfunction Junction concept map">{{cite map |title = Master Plan Project: I-275 from South of SR&nbsp;60 to North of MLK Boulevard (3) |url = http://www.tampabayexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/MP-3-3-of-4-I-275-S-OF-SR&nbsp;60-TO-N-OF-MLK.pdf |via = ''Tampa Bay Express'' |publisher = Florida Department of Transportation |access-date = February 19, 2015 |format = PDF |date = January 2015 |archive-date = February 19, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150219143021/http://www.tampabayexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/MP-3-3-of-4-I-275-S-OF-SR&nbsp;60-TO-N-OF-MLK.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref> Express bus lanes for regional service and a long-distance bus service were studied for inclusion in the plan. The I-4 corridor was considered in the bus lane study,<ref name="Express Bus lanes TBX">{{cite web |title = Express Bus in the Tampa Bay Express Lanes (Draft) |url = http://www.planhillsborough.org/express-bus-in-the-tampa-bay-express-lanes/ |publisher = Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission |access-date = February 19, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140928183817/http://www.planhillsborough.org/express-bus-in-the-tampa-bay-express-lanes/ |archive-date = September 28, 2014 }}</ref> but the resultant proposal included installation only on I-275 and I-75.<ref name="TBX Express bus lanes proposal">{{cite web |title = Express Bus in Tampa Bay Express Lanes |url = http://www.tampabayexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/FDOT-40-Bus-Toll-Lanes_v4.pdf |website = Tampa Bay Express |publisher = Florida Department of Transportation |access-date = February 19, 2015 |date = January 2015 |archive-date = February 19, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150219143408/http://www.tampabayexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/FDOT-40-Bus-Toll-Lanes_v4.pdf |url-status = dead }}. FDOT said that the project will be completed in the near future.</ref>

===Other projects===
{{update section|date=November 2016}}
Connections with two new expressways are planned. The Wekiva Parkway—a {{convert|25|mi|km|adj=on}} segment of SR&nbsp;429—will connect to SR&nbsp;417 at the I-4 interchange in Sanford. When completed in 2023, it will complete the beltway around Orlando, although the southern ends of SR&nbsp;429 and SR&nbsp;417 do not connect and are separated by a {{convert|3.4|mi|km|adj=on}} drive along I-4.<ref name="Wekiva Parkway FAQs">{{cite web |title = Frequently Asked Questions |url = http://wekivaparkway.com/faq.php |website = Wekiva Parkway |publisher = Florida Department of Transportation/Central Florida Expressway |access-date = February 19, 2015 }}</ref> 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"/> The [[Central Polk Parkway]] is a planned tolled expressway in eastern Polk County that will connect I-4 near Davenport with the Polk Parkway near [[Bartow, Florida|Bartow]]; it is currently in the design phase, but funding for [[Right-of-way (transportation)|right-of-way]] acquisition of the initial segments is not planned until fiscal year 2019–2020.<ref name="Central Polk Parkway">{{cite web |title = Central Polk Parkway |url = http://www.centralpolkparkway.com/ |website = Central Polk Parkway |publisher = Florida Department of Transportation |access-date = February 19, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150223155730/http://www.centralpolkparkway.com/ |archive-date = February 23, 2015 |url-status = dead |df = mdy-all }}</ref> Additionally, FDOT is conducting a feasibility study for a {{convert|5|to|11.5|mi|adj=on|km}}<ref>{{cite web |title = Draft Summary of Potential Environmental Impacts: Preliminary Corridors |url = http://www.i4poincianaconnector.com/images/i4ppc_Summary-of-impacts-preliminary-corridors.pdf |website = I-4 Poinciana Parkway Connector |publisher = Florida Department of Transportation |access-date = February 19, 2015 |date = December 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150219142238/http://www.i4poincianaconnector.com/images/i4ppc_Summary-of-impacts-preliminary-corridors.pdf |archive-date = February 19, 2015 |url-status = dead }}</ref> connection between I-4 and the [[Poinciana Parkway]]—a short, tolled expressway completed in 2016 between US&nbsp;17/US&nbsp;92 and the community of [[Poinciana, Florida|Poinciana]].<ref>{{cite web |title = About the Study |url = http://www.i4poincianaconnector.com/about-the-study.shtm |website = I-4 Poinciana Parkway Connector |publisher = Florida Department of Transportation |access-date = February 19, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150219135248/http://www.i4poincianaconnector.com/about-the-study.shtm |archive-date = February 19, 2015 |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite map |title = Project Study Area |url = http://www.i4poincianaconnector.com/images/project-location-map-lrg.pdf |via = ''I-4 Poinciana Parkway Connector'' |publisher = Florida Department of Transportation |access-date = February 19, 2015 |format = PDF |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150219141744/http://www.i4poincianaconnector.com/images/project-location-map-lrg.pdf |archive-date = February 19, 2015 |url-status = dead }}</ref><!-- <ref>{{cite news |last1=Hesson |first1=Matt |title=FDOT Cancels Plans for Interstate Ramp Into Disney Springs |url=https://wdwnt.com/2023/03/fdot-cancels-plans-for-interstate-ramp-into-disney-springs/ |access-date=18 May 2023 |work=wdwnt.com |date=9 March 2023}}</ref> -->

Despite the cancellation of the [[Florida High-Speed Corridor]] in 2011, the following year, All Aboard Florida, now [[Brightline]], announced its intentions to build an [[inter-city rail]] route between [[MiamiCentral|Miami]] and [[Orlando International Airport Intermodal Terminal|Orlando]], which eventually began operations in September 2023. Brightline is currently in the planning stages of developing an expansion of service between Orlando and Tampa using the I-4 right-of-way.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-07 |title=Florida bill would preserve Interstate 4 route for Brightline extension to Tampa |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/florida-bill-would-preserve-interstate-4-route-for-brightline-extension-to-tampa/ |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=Trains |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2014, FDOT began a study of the feasibility of extending the [[SunRail]] commuter train line to Daytona Beach, primarily focusing on the use of the I-4 median. The ongoing widening project from SR&nbsp;44 to I-95 maintains a median wide enough to accommodate a future rail line.<ref>{{cite news |last1 = Harper |first1 = Mark |title = Volusia Supports $2.5M Study of SunRail to Daytona |url = http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20140417/NEWS/140419440?p=1&tc=pg |access-date = August 20, 2014 |work = Daytona Beach News Journal |date = April 17, 2014 }}</ref>