Florida is ramping up its investment in transportation infrastructure, with a major new highway expansion and improved amenities for truck drivers on the way.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Oct. 16 that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will build 17 miles of new express lanes along Interstate 4, connecting I-75 to County Line Road in Hillsborough County — a key artery that links the state’s west and east coasts.
.jpg)
The $500 million project will add a single express lane in each direction, aiming to reduce congestion, improve traffic flow, and separate long-distance and local commuter traffic.
“Plans for expanding I-4 have been in place for over 15 years, but this project would have likely remained on the back burner for another decade,” FDOT Chairman and Secretary Jared Perdue said during the announcement. “Instead, we chose to move forward now and make the improvements within the existing highway’s right of way.”
Construction is expected to begin in 2028, with work taking place entirely within the current I-4 corridor footprint. FDOT officials emphasized that advancing the project sooner rather than later will allow for faster mobility improvements and reduced construction disruption.
The new I-4 expansion comes shortly after FDOT completed a major interchange improvement at Daryl Carter Parkway near Orlando in July. That project aimed to enhance access to residential and retail areas while easing traffic bottlenecks at neighboring exits.
Alongside the I-4 express lanes, the state is also addressing one of Florida’s long-standing infrastructure challenges — the shortage of truck parking spaces.
FDOT will construct a 100-space truck parking facility in Polk County at the interchange of Polk Parkway and I-4, east of Tampa. The corridor currently suffers from one of the state’s most severe truck parking deficits, forcing many drivers to stop in unsafe or unauthorized areas.
“We actually have an initiative underway right now to bring over 1,400 truck parking spots to the I-4 corridor as a whole,” Perdue said, noting that the project will complement a broader statewide effort to improve freight logistics.
.jpg)
The initiative builds upon a federal effort to boost truck parking availability. In January 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced $180 million in funding to add 917 truck parking spaces along I-4 in Osceola, Seminole, and Volusia counties. Those projects, with estimated costs ranging between $29.5 million and $74 million, were formally executed in July 2025, according to Trucking Dive.
Gov. DeSantis framed the I-4 expansion and truck parking initiatives as key parts of his administration’s push to support economic growth and improve safety on one of Florida’s busiest highways.
“These investments reflect our commitment to modernizing Florida’s transportation network and supporting the industries that keep our state moving,” he said.
The I-4 corridor, which serves millions of commuters and commercial drivers annually, has long been identified as a critical bottleneck for freight movement and regional growth. With population and trade activity continuing to rise across Central Florida, the new express lanes and added parking capacity are expected to bring both economic and safety benefits to the region.
While the FDOT has not yet released detailed design plans, transportation analysts say the project aligns with Florida’s broader strategy to upgrade existing corridors rather than build entirely new roadways — a cost-effective approach that leverages existing infrastructure while minimizing environmental impact.
The combined investments in highway expansion and logistics infrastructure underscore the state’s intent to balance economic competitiveness with practical solutions for congestion relief and freight efficiency.
Originally reported by Zachary Phillips on Construction Dive.
.webp)
