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Interstate 4 (abbreviated I-4) is a 132.30-mile (212.91 km) intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the state of Florida, United States. It goes from Interstate 275 in Tampa, Florida (27°57′54″N 82°27′11″W / 27.965°N 82.453°W / 27.965; -82.453) to Interstate 95 at Daytona Beach, Florida (29°09′18″N 81°04′34″W / 29.155°N 81.076°W / 29.155; -81.076). It also has the Florida Department of Transportation designation of State Road 400, but only a small portion of the route is signed at the east end.
The combination of the Tampa, Lakeland, Orlando and Daytona Beach metropolitan areas is often referred to as the I-4 Corridor, since the freeway connects all four. In the 2004 U.S. presidential election, the I-4 corridor, a site of significant growth, was a focus of political activity within the swing state of Florida. Communities along the I-4 corridor were perceived by both major political parties as having higher proportions of undecided voters as compared to more Republican- or Democratic-leaning portions of the state.
Hurricane Charley is sometimes referred to locally as the "I-4 Hurricane." The storm's path followed closely to Interstate 4 for its last 100 miles (160 km) and caused widespread damage in Central Florida.
Major cities
Bolded cities are officially designated control cities for signs:
History
- Interstate 4 is one of Florida's first interstate segments to be constructed. The first segment opened between Plant City and Lakeland in 1959.
- In 1960/1961, the Howard Frankland Bridge opened to traffic, as well as the segment from 50th St in Tampa to Plant City, and the segment from Lake Monroe to Lake Helen.
- The segment from Lakeland to Orlando was complete by 1962.
- By the mid 1960s, several segments were already complete, including Malfunction Junction in Tampa and parts of I-4 through Orlando.
- The original western terminus was set in South Pasadena in the late 1960s, but this plan was rejected due to local opposition. As a result, I-4 only went as far southwest as 9th St N in St. Petersburg.
- The entire interstate was complete by the late 1960s. However, the western terminus was truncated to Malfunction Junction in 1971 when I-75 was extended over the Frankland Bridge. Eventually, that stretch was again renamed to become part of I-275.
- The interchange with what is today Interstate 75, was contructed in the early 1980s.
- In the early/mid 1990s, several interchanges near Kissimmee were constructed/upgraded to accommodate increasing traffic going to and from Walt Disney World, however I-4's main lanes were not widened in the process. At around the same time, the Southern Connector was extended to I-4.
- The I-4/I-275 interchange (Malfunction Junction) was rebuilt in 2004 and 2005, and I-4 is under staged renovations to expand it from four to six lanes (with eight lanes in certain segments). Some of this work is complete.
- Eventually, I-4 will be widened again to a total of at least ten lanes (five in each direction). Studies for this project are already underway and construction should commence sometime in the 2010s. Completion of the project should be around 2020.
Notes
This road is very close to a true diagonal route. It goes further east-west than north-south, though it would probably still be even-numbered even if it didn't, given that it only intersects odd-numbered Interstates at right angles. Throughout most of Orange County and Seminole County, I-4 travels in almost a north-south direction.
The bridge over the St. Johns River, originally a single four-lane span, replaced with two three-lane spans in 2003, is now named the Veterans Memorial Bridge.
Many post-1970 era interchanges along I-4 were built prior to the recent widening projects, with (I-4) expansion in mind. Meaning that there is enough room available to widen I-4 up to ten lanes without extensively modifying the interchanges. Some of these interchanges include the Interstate 75 stack (constructed in the 1980s) and several interchanges in Kissimmee (constructed in the late 1980s/early 1990s).
Tolled express lanes were being planned in the Orlando area as a traffic congestion relief technique for rush hour commuters. The name for them was to be Xpress 400, numbered after the state road designation for I-4, SR 400. However, due to U.S. Representative John Mica, they have been banned by a recently passed rider in the SAFETEA-LU Federal transportation bill in 2005.
While the entire length of I-4 carries the hidden designation of State Road 400, there is a three mile long stretch of signed SR 400 extending from the northeast terminus of I-4 to an intersection with U.S. Route 1 (SR 5) in Daytona Beach.
This is the lowest-numbered Interstate Highway, not including Interstates in Hawaii; I-5 is the lowest-numbered north-south Interstate.
The fierce rivalry between the Tampa Bay Storm and Orlando Predators Arena Football League teams has been penned as the War on I-4, as has the rivalry between the University of South Florida in Tampa and the University of Central Florida in Orlando.
In Tampa, the exit to 40th Street (State Road 569) has been closed since late-2005, due to the ongoing reconstruction of I-4; It will not reopen due to a proposed connector highway with the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway.
Eastbound I-4 shifted to its new, permanent alignment between Malfunction Junction and 50th St on Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 5:30am. The new alignment includes a right-lane ramp exit/entry at the 22nd St/21st St Interchange (The previous left-lane configuration was causing hazardous conditions to commuters since its opening in 2005). On Friday, August 11, 2006; a fourth lane opened on eastbound I-4 between the downtown junction and 50th St (led in by a newly opened third lane on the eastbound I-4 ramp from northbound I-275). And on Friday, August 18, the new westbound allignment, just west of 50th Street, opened. The newly opened lanes will improve flow throughout the interchange. The 50th St overpass however, will not be complete until late 2007.
Also, the eastbound I-4 exit ramp to Columbus Drive/50th Street is situated to the left-hand side of the highway (as opposed to its former right-hand side exit). This exit shift went into effect in spring 2006 and is part of the new, permanent interstate configuration.
In Orlando, the eastbound exit to Robinson Street (State Road 526) permanently closed at 11PM on April 25, 2006, to make way for construction of the new eastbound onramp from State Road 408.
The new flyover from I-4 west to John Young Parkway (County Road 423) opened the morning of April 27, 2006.
Intersections With Other Interstates
- Interstate 275 in Tampa, Florida (western terminus)
- Interstate 75 in Tampa, Florida
- Interstate 95 in Daytona Beach, Florida (eastern terminus)
Proposed Connection to State Road 618 in Tampa
- In 2004, the 40th St exit (Exit 2) with I-4 was permanently closed due to the proposed connector.
Exit list
Exits are numbered from west to east.
| Number | Mile | Destinations | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old | |||||
 Interstate 275 south -  Tampa International Airport/St. Petersburg
|
Tampa | westbound exit and eastbound entrance | |||
| Interstate 275 north to Interstate 75 north - Ocala
|
westbound exit and eastbound entrance | ||||
| 1 | 1 |  State Road 585 - 21st Street/22nd Street
| |||
| 2 (Former Exit) | 2 |  State Road 569 - 40th Street (Permanently Closed)
|
Now only an overpass with no ramps; to be replaced by a proposed connector to State Road 618 (Florida) | ||
| 2 (Future Exit) |  I-4/Crosstown Connector south to  Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway/Port of Tampa
|
Connector construction is scheduled to begin in 2009. | |||
| 3 | 3 |  U.S. Highway 41 - 50th Street/Columbus Drive
|
Eastbound left exit and Westbound left entrance. Eastbound right entrance and Westbound right exit. | ||
| 5 | 4 |  State Road 574 - Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
| |||
| 6 | 5 | Orient Road | eastbound exit and westbound entrance | ||
| 7 | 6 |  U.S. Highway 92 to  U.S. Route 301 - Hillsborough Avenue/Riverview/Zephyrhills
| |||
| 9 | 7 |  Interstate 75 - Ocala/Naples
| |||
| 10 | 8 | County Road 579 - Mango/Thonotosassa | |||
| 14 | 9 | McIntosh Road | |||
| 17 | 10 | Branch Forbes Road | |||
| 19 | 11 |  State Road 566 - Thonotosassa Road
|
Plant City | ||
| 21 | 12-13 |  State Road 39 - Alexander Street/Buchman Highway/Zephyrhills
| |||
| 22 | 14 | Park Road ( State Road 553)
| |||
| 25 | 15 | County Line Road | |||
| 27 | 15A |  State Road 570 east - Polk Parkway/Winter Haven/Bartow
|
Lakeland | ||
| 28 | 16 | to U.S. Highway 92 ( State Road 546)
| |||
| 31 | 17 |  State Road 539 - Kathleen
| |||
| 32 | 18 |  U.S. Highway 98 - Dade City
| |||
| 33 | 19 |  State Road 33/County Road 582
| |||
| 38 | 20 | State Road 33
| |||
| 41 | 20A | State Road 570 west - Polk Parkway/Auburndale/Lakeland
| |||
| 44 | 21 |  State Road 559 - Polk City/Auburndale
| |||
| 48 | 22 | County Road 557 - Lake Alfred/Winter Haven | |||
| 55 | 23 |  U.S. Highway 27 - Haines City/Clermont
| |||
| 60 |  State Road 429 north - Apopka
| ||||
| 58 | 24 | County Road 532 - Kissimmee/Poinciana | |||
| 62 | 24C-D | Disney World/Celebration | |||
| 62 | 24E |  State Road 417 north - International Airport/Sanford
|
eastbound exit and westbound entrance | ||
| 64 | 25 |  U.S. Highway 192 - Celebration/Kissimmee/Magic Kingdom/Disney/MGM Studios
|
split into 64A and 64B | ||
| 65 | 26C-D |  Osceola Parkway - Animal Kingdom/Wide World of Sports
|
was only 26C eastbound | ||
| 67 | 26A-B |  State Road 536 to State Road 417 - Epcot/Downtown Disney
| |||
| 68 | 27 |  State Road 535 - Kissimmee/Lake Buena Vista
| |||
| 71 | 27A | Central Florida Pkwy/Sea World | International Drive | eastbound exit and westbound entrance | |
| 72 | 28 |  State Road 528 east - International Airport/Cape Canaveral
| |||
| 74A | 29 |  State Road 482 - Sand Lake Road
|
was 29A westbound after 29B (current 74B) opened | ||
| 74B | 29B | Universal | westbound exit and entrance | ||
| 75A | 30A |  State Road 435 south - Kirkman Road/Universal
|
no westbound entrance | ||
| 75B | 30B | State Road 435 north - Kirkman Road
|
no eastbound entrance | ||
| 77 | 31 |   Florida's Turnpike - Miami/Wildwood
| |||
| 78 | 31A | Conroy Road | |||
| 79 | 32 | County Road 423 - John Young Parkway | |||
| 80A | 33A |  U.S. Highway 17 south/ U.S. Highway 441 south/ U.S. Highway 92 west - International Airport
|
exit 80 westbound | ||
| 80B | 33B | U.S. Highway 17 north/ U.S. Highway 441 north/ U.S. Highway 92 east
|
eastbound exit and westbound entrance | ||
| 81A | 34 | Michigan Street | westbound exit and eastbound entrance | ||
| 81B-C | 35 | Kaley Avenue | was split into 35A and 35B westbound only | ||
| 82A | 36 |  State Road 408
| |||
| 82B | 37 | Gore Street | westbound exit and entrance | ||
| 82C | 38 | Anderson Street east | Downtown Orlando | ||
| 83 | 39 | South Street | westbound exit and eastbound entrance | ||
| 83A | 40 |  State Road 526 - Robinson Street (Eastbound exit closed)
|
eastbound exit and westbound entrance | ||
| 83B | 41 |  U.S. Highway 17/U.S. Highway 92/State Road 50 - Amelia Street/Colonial Drive
|
part of exit 84 westbound | ||
| 84 | 42 | Ivanhoe Boulevard | |||
| 85 | 43 | Princeton Street | |||
| 86 | 44 | Par Avenue | Winter Park | eastbound exit and westbound entrance | |
| 87 | 45 | Fairbanks Avenue ( State Road 426)
| |||
| 88 | 46 |  State Road 423 - Lee Road
| |||
| 90 | 47 |  State Road 414 - Maitland Boulevard
|
split into 90A and 90B eastbound | ||
| 92 | 48 |  State Road 436 - Altamonte Springs/Apopka
| |||
| 94 | 49 |  State Road 434 - Longwood/Winter Springs
| |||
| 98 | 50 | Lake Mary/Heathrow | |||
| 101A | 51A | County Road 46A - Heathrow | Sanford | ||
| 101B | State Road 417 - International Airport
| ||||
| 101C | 51 |  State Road 46 - Mount Dora
| |||
| 104 | 52 | U.S. Highway 17/U.S. Highway 92
| |||
| 108 | 53 | DeBary/Deltona | |||
| 111 | 53CA-CB | Deltona/Orange City | split into 111A and 111B eastbound | ||
| 114 | 54 |  State Road 472 - Orange City
|
DeLand | ||
| 116 | 55 | Lake Helen | |||
| 118 | 56 |  State Road 44 - New Smyrna Beach
| |||
| 129 | 57 | U.S. Highway 92 east
|
Daytona Beach | eastbound exit and westbound entrance | |
 Interstate 95 north - Jacksonville
| |||||
| Interstate 95 south - Miami
| |||||
| 132 | 58 | State Road 400 east - South Daytona
|
eastbound exit and westbound entrance | ||
Misc.
- In maps and atlasses dating to the 1950s/60s/and 70s; The Tampa/St. Petersburg section of Interstate 4/Interstate 275 was marked as the Tampa Expressway. The Orlando segment was marked as the Orlando Expressway. Both names have since faded from the maps.
References
- Tampa Bay Interstates, I-4/Crosstown Connector Project Page
- Tampa Bay Interstates, Eastbound I-4 in new alignment, August 8, 2006
- WTSP, Eastbound I-4 traffic: New lanes, new exit through Ybor City, August 7, 2006
- WTSP, New I-4 lanes help drivers get to concert early , August 10, 2006
- Tampa Bay Interstates, New eastbound I-4 lane open!, August 8, 2006
- Central Florida News 13, On The Move, April 25, 2006
- Orlando Sentinel, Rising above I-4 crowds, April 26, 2006
- WESH, Changes Under Way On I-4, April 26, 2006
- Central Florida News 13, On The Move, April 26, 2006
- http://www.mytbi.com/content/users/projectinfo.asp?projectID=35&RoadID=3
- http://www.mytbi.com/urs/content/Design/I4-CrosstownConnector/index.asp
External links
- Trans4mation (Orlando-area reconstruction)
- I4Polk.com (Lakeland-area reconstruction)
- Tampa Bay Interstates (Tampa-area reconstruction)
- Interstate 4 at Exitlists.com
- Interstate 4 at Larry's Phat Page
- Interstate 4 at Interstate275Florida.com
 Primary Interstate Highways | |
|---|---|
| Signed | |
| Unsigned | |
| Lists | |
| Other | |
| Routes in italics are no longer a part of the system. Major Interstates are highlighted. | |