Not everyone who visits the Walt Disney World Resort arrives by plane. Many Florida residents and out-of-state visitors make the trip by car. This weekend, those travelers in Central Florida who use a long stretch of Interstate 4 on their way to the parks will finally be able to move along I-4’s newly-constructed toll lanes as they open on Saturday morning beginning at 10:00 a.m., according to the Florida Transportation Department.
For the first five days, no tolls will be charged to travelers who use the toll lanes. After the five days, tolls will initially be charged at a rate of as much as $3.50 for the entire 21 miles.
The huge $2.4 billion overhaul project has been under construction for seven years now. It includes a 21-mile stretch of the interstate, and according to The Orlando Sentinel, the new express lanes were promised as those which would offer travelers “a speedier journey through Orange and Seminole counties.” The project included the construction of two toll lanes in both directions in the roadway’s median.
After the new lanes’ introductory period, prices for the tolls “will be adjusted based on traffic volumes in I-4 Express to manage congestion,” according to a statement from the Florida Department of Transportation.
“Pricing will not be a fixed rate and will vary based on the number of vehicles using I-4 Express,” FDOT said. “The current toll rate will be displayed on overhead electronic signs in advance of each entrance.”
The new toll lanes encompass an area near Kirkman Road in Orange County to just east of State Road 434 in Semiole County. The lanes will utilize Florida SunPass transponders or other devices that work with the state’s toll roads. I-4 Express toll lanes will not offer a pay-by-cash option or a bill-by-plate option.
“As drivers navigate the new traffic pattern, motorists are advised to allow extra time in their trip for any additional congestion that may occur,” the FDOT statement further reads.
For more information about the project, travelers can visit the I-4 Express site here.