One of Florida's most time-consuming highways to drive is getting an upgrade — and it's coming even sooner than expected. An I-4 widening project that was slated to begin in Polk County in a few years' time is now scheduled to begin in the coming months.

The Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative was passed by legislators in 2023, dedicating $4 billion in funding to fast-track 20 Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) projects up to 20 years ahead of schedule, including two in Polk County.

Prepare for an I-4 widening from Polk to Orange County beginning this fall. | Image via Florida Department of Transportation

The larger of the two includes widening I-4 from US 27 to ChampionsGate, a 3.2-mile stretch of road from Davenport to the Polk/Osceola County line that's notorious for slowdowns. To relieve congestion, FDOT will add auxiliary + express lanes to both the eastbound and westbound roads.

Due to the Moving I-4 Forward program, the timeline for this $635 million project has moved up. Construction is now slated to start this fall instead of 2026, meaning drivers could start seeing congestion relief by next year.

Driving beyond ChampionsGate toward Orlando? FDOT also plans to extend the extra lanes to the Osceola Parkway near Walt Disney World.

Roundabouts will be implemented at the SR 33 interchange between Lakeland + Polk City. | Image via Florida Department of Transportation

Closer to home, construction at I-4 and SR 33 in northeast Lakeland is now set to begin on Jan. 6, 2025 with a price tag of $197 million. When complete, crews will convert the interchange's current signalized intersections into roundabouts, add lanes to SR 33, and improve crossings for wildlife. Its estimated end date is now in late 2028 or 2029.

Before crews start construction, a public meeting will be held to offer Lakelanders a look at how the project will impact traffic. Attend the Pre-Construction Information Session on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 5:30-7 p.m. at Florida Polytechnic University’s Barnett Applied Research Center.

What Lakelanders are saying

We asked readers to sound off on whether they like the plans or wish FDOT would go back to the drawing board. After nearly 300 responses + comments, here's how the answers shook out:

81% — I'm all for it.
10% — I like it, but I'd make some changes.
4% — I'd go back to the drawing board first.
1% — I don't like it at all.
5% — Other

Readers also elaborated on their answers, with many calling for the project to start as soon as possible. "This should have been done 20 years ago," Reader Terri S. told us.

Some said they'd like to see I-4 widened even more, like Margo J. who said, "Lakeland to Tampa needs another lane too." A few were against the plans, like Glenn H. who wrote, "We have enough toll lanes and toll roads in Florida. They do not relieve congestion."

We might have been talking roads, but readers had trains on the brain. On Instagram, @nicole_maddog wrote, "Hopefully it helps at least marginally. But I do think investing in high speed rails is a more effective long term approach."

Renderings show an optional rail envelope in the I-4 median, but no plans for train service have been announced. SunRail is, however, considering an expansion into Polk County.