Construction is set to begin this year on a series of new truck parking facilities aimed at easing chronic congestion and safety concerns along Interstate 4, one of Central Florida’s busiest freight corridors.
Trucks parked on I-4 ramps and shoulders have become a familiar — and often dangerous — sight for drivers throughout the region. For many truck drivers, stopping along the roadway is not a preference but a necessity when legal parking options are unavailable.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, the I-4 corridor currently has the most severe truck parking shortage in the state. Along a 75-mile stretch from the Osceola–Polk County line to Interstate 95, there are just 36 public truck parking spaces available, far short of what is needed to support freight traffic moving through Central Florida.
To address the issue, FDOT says construction will begin this summer on three new truck parking facilities — two in Volusia County and one in Seminole County. A fourth facility, planned for Osceola County, is scheduled to break ground next year. Once complete, the projects will significantly expand legal parking capacity for long-haul and regional truck drivers traveling through the area.
The four state-led projects include:
Together, the facilities are expected to add more than 900 truck parking spaces along the I-4 corridor, providing safer, designated locations for drivers to rest and comply with federal hours-of-service regulations.
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The truck parking shortage has also drawn attention at the local level. In Orange City, Development Services Director Joseph Ruiz said private investors have expressed interest in developing a truck stop near I-4 to meet growing demand from drivers seeking convenient interstate access.
One property owner has proposed building a travel station near State Road 472 and Kentucky Avenue. However, Ruiz said the site is designated for a future town center and mixed-use development, making a truck stop incompatible with the city’s comprehensive plan. While the owners may submit a proposal, city officials have indicated that the concept does not align with Orange City’s long-term development goals.
FDOT estimates construction on the state-funded facilities will take approximately two years. Officials say they are also exploring ways to accelerate the timeline in order to move trucks off highway ramps and shoulders as quickly as possible.
Once completed, the new facilities are expected to improve roadway safety, reduce congestion caused by illegally parked trucks, and provide drivers with reliable, legal rest areas along one of Florida’s most heavily traveled interstate routes.
Originally reported by Pamela Comme, Reporter in Wesh.
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