Interstate 4

Interstate 4 marker
Interstate 4
Map
I-4 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by FDOT
Length132.30 mi[1] (212.92 km)
Existed1959–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end I-275 in Tampa
Major intersections
East end I-95 / SR 400 near Daytona Beach
Location
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountiesHillsborough, Polk, Osceola, Orange, Seminole, Volusia
Highway system
SR 3 SR 4

Interstate 4 (I-4) is an Interstate Highway located entirely within the US state of Florida, maintained by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Spanning 132.30 miles (212.92 km) along a generally southwest–northeast axis, I-4 is entirely concurrent with State Road 400 (SR 400). In the west, I-4 begins at an interchange with I-275 in Tampa. I-4 intersects with several major expressways as it traverses Central Florida, including US Highway 41 (US 41) in Tampa; US 301 near Riverview; I-75 near Brandon; US 98 in Lakeland; US 27 in unincorporated Davenport; US 192 in Celebration; Florida's Turnpike in Orlando; and US 17 and US 92 in multiple junctions. In the east, I-4 ends at an interchange with I-95 in Daytona Beach, while SR 400 continues for roughly another four miles (6.4 km) and ends at an intersection with US 1 on the city line of Daytona Beach and South Daytona.

Construction on I-4 began in 1958; the first segment opened in 1959, and the entire highway was completed in 1965.[2] The "I-4 Ultimate" project oversaw the construction of variable-toll express lanes and numerous redevelopments through the 21-mile (34 km) stretch of highway extending from Kirkman Road (SR 435; exit 75) in Orlando to SR 434 (exit 94) in Longwood. The project broke ground in 2015, and the express lanes opened to traffic on February 26, 2022. Previously, the median of I-4 between Tampa and Orlando was the planned route of a now-canceled high-speed rail line;[3] however, Brightline, an inter-city rail route, plans to use the I-4 right-of-way for their expansion of service to Tampa. From a political standpoint, the "I-4 corridor" is a strategic region given the large number of undecided voters in a large swing state.[4]

  1. ^ Starks, Edward (January 27, 2022). "Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways". FHWA Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  2. ^ "Overview: I-4 Ultimate". Florida Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on June 5, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  3. ^ Williams, Timothy (February 16, 2011). "Florida's Governor Rejects High-Speed Rail Line, Fearing Cost to Taxpayers". The New York Times. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  4. ^ Smith, Adam (November 4, 2016). "Florida's I-4 corridor: Where presidents get picked". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved May 29, 2017.