I-4 Ultimate

Over 50 years old, the previously existing 21 miles of lanes of I-4 that ran from west of Kirkman Road in Orange County were deteriorating and heavily congested. The I-4 Ultimate project was created to vastly improve mobility and driving times in this corridor, one of the most heavily used highways in one of the most densely populated areas in central Florida.

As owner representative, HNTB worked hand-in-hand with the Florida Department of Transportation to oversee construction. The extensive overhaul included four new lanes with two managed lanes in each direction and encompassed more than 250 lane miles, 15 interchanges and 150 bridges. Comprehensive construction oversight services included P3 delivery that allows the project to be fast-tracked over seven years, rather than 30 years under a traditional funding model.

Additional improvements include a pedestrian bridge, accent lighting, fountain illumination, sculptures, monuments and architectural elements. To keep drivers informed throughout the construction process, a state-of-the-art communications system was created to distribute notifications about lane, street and ramp closures to the public.

Altogether the I-4 Ultimate project incorporates technical concepts that exceeded FDOT’s minimum requirements around basic configuration, project scope and design criteria, traffic flow, safety, community relations and technology. Improvements from the project provide residents and travelers with an aesthetically pleasing, environmentally friendly and highly functioning thoroughfare that will serve them for years to come.