Misplaced Pages

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91-469: CNL Center City Commons is a complex of buildings in Downtown Orlando . The main building is a 250 foot tall skyscraper that is the headquarters of CNLBank, Alliance Bankshares before being acquired by the founder of CNL Financial Group . In 2010, its assessed value was $ 59.6 million. The complex is also home to Orlando's current city hall, which was built after in the old one was demolished in

182-492: A $ 2.3-billion reconstruction, and was completed on February 26, 2022. This project replaced most bridges, changed the configurations of many intersections, and added two express toll lanes —named I-4 Express—in each direction. After passing along the west side of Downtown Orlando, I-4 continues through the city's northern suburbs—including Winter Park , Maitland , Altamonte Springs , and Sanford . Around mile 91, I-4 enters Seminole County and, soon thereafter, shifts to

273-486: A 21-mile (34 km) stretch of I-4 through Orlando from SR 435 (exit 75) east to SR 434 (exit 94). The most noticeable change is the addition of four variable-toll express lanes along this section, called I-4 Express. The toll rates maintain an average speed of 60 mph (97 km/h). Additionally, the general-use lanes were rebuilt, 15 major interchanges were reconfigured, 53 new bridges were added, and 75 bridges were replaced. A pedestrian bridge

364-692: A 5-to-11.5-mile (8.0 to 18.5 km) connection between I-4 and the Poinciana Parkway —a short, tolled expressway completed in 2016 between US 17/US 92 and the community of Poinciana . Despite the cancellation of the Florida High-Speed Corridor in 2011, the following year, All Aboard Florida, now Brightline , announced its intentions to build an inter-city rail route between Miami and Orlando , which eventually began operations in September 2023. Brightline

455-449: A handful of small restaurants, bars and boutiques along E Washington St. The neighborhood also has a small fountain located in the center of the intersection of E Washington St & N Hyer Ave which has become a focal point, and is described here: The Fountain is a replica of a fountain found in a Paris city center that is 25 times its size. In 1999 the "Taste of Thornton Park Event" was organized specifically to raise enough money to purchase

546-410: A limited-access highway into Walt Disney World and an electric pylon in the shape of Mickey Mouse can be seen on the southwest corner of the intersection. The single Central Florida GreeneWay/World Drive exit (exit 62) also marks an abrupt change from rural to suburban/urban landscape. The highway passes beside Celebration and Kissimmee on the east side and Walt Disney World (not visible) on

637-607: A northeast heading. The Seminole Expressway (SR 417), after passing around the east side of Greater Orlando, has its northern terminus (exit 101B) at I-4 in Sanford. This intersection will also connect with the Wekiva Parkway (SR 429), currently under construction, when it is completed in mid-2023, at which point a full beltway (SR 429/SR 417; concurrent with I-4 for two miles [3.2 km]) around Greater Orlando will be available. On October 21, 2022,

728-480: A north–south commuter rail that will run mostly along existing CSX / Amtrak rails. Launched in 2014, it provides service between the northern suburb of DeLand to the southern suburb of Poinciana. A large transfer station, the LYNX Central Station, currently handles Lynx bus transfers and was constructed to accommodate the large capacity expected from SunRail. Further development is underway to extend

819-537: A pair of rest areas at the Daryl Carter Parkway overpass (mile 70) near Lake Buena Vista in early 1999 and replaced them with retention ponds to serve runoff from an additional lane in each direction of I-4. Another former rest area, without any bathrooms, existed on the eastbound side near mile 127 in Volusia County . A pair of weigh stations including weigh in motion scales

910-403: A principal bottleneck. The term "highway hostages" was coined in the 1980s to describe people stuck in long commutes to and from Orlando on I-4. In the early-to-mid-1990s, several interchanges near Kissimmee were constructed or upgraded to accommodate increasing traffic going to and from Walt Disney World. However, I-4's mainlanes were not widened in the process. Around the same time, SR 417

1001-423: A result of a state constitutional amendment to build a high-speed rail system between its five largest cities passed by voters in 2000, construction projects on I-4 included a wide median to accommodate a high-speed rail line. The high-speed rail project was canceled in 2004 but revived again in 2009. In 2010, the federal government awarded Florida over $ 2 billion (equivalent to $ 2.73 billion in 2023 )—nearly

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1092-523: A result of several large, deadly pileups caused by dense fog. At mile 57, I-4 enters Osceola County and, soon thereafter, intersects Greater Orlando 's beltways: the incomplete Western Expressway (SR 429) on the western side and the Central Florida GreeneWay (SR 417) which rounds the eastern side before returning to I-4 in Sanford. Additionally, an exit to World Drive (signed as just "Disney World") runs north as

1183-508: A right-lane ramp exit/entry at the 22nd Street/21st Street Interchange (the previous left-lane configuration was causing hazardous conditions to commuters since its opening in 2005). On August 11, 2006, a fourth lane opened on eastbound I-4 between the downtown junction and 50th Street (led in by a newly opened third lane on the eastbound I-4 ramp from northbound I-275). And, on August 18, the new westbound alignment, just west of 50th Street, opened. The newly opened lanes will improve flow throughout

1274-814: Is a residential area with a large number of high-intensity entertainment and office institutions; such as the Amway Center , Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre , US Courthouse for the Mid-District of Florida, Florida A&M University School of Law, county & state buildings, and Orlando Police Department headquarters. Smaller businesses include grocery stores, barber shops, and soul food restaurants. Orlando officially considers Parramore to be three separate neighborhoods: Lake Dot (between Colonial Drive and Amelia Street), Callahan (between Amelia Street and Central Boulevard), and Holden/Parramore (between Central Boulevard and Gore Street). All three are bounded on

1365-489: Is also proposed to be a diverging diamond. Unlike I-4 Ultimate, where the 21 miles (34 km) encompassed by that project were constructed at once, the 40 miles (64 km) encompassed by I-4 Beyond the Ultimate will be constructed in phases. As part of the "Moving Florida Forward" initiative, construction of I-4 widening between Championsgate and Osceola Parkway will add additional lanes on this 15-mile segment, which

1456-556: Is an unsigned highway while running concurrently with I-4 from their shared western terminus at I-275 in Tampa through the last eastbound exit before the eastern terminus of I-4, at I-95 in Daytona Beach. SR 400 is named Beville Road beyond I-95 and continues for another 4.216 mi (6.785 km) to its own eastern terminus at an intersection with US 1 on the city line between Daytona Beach and South Daytona. Sections of

1547-554: Is currently in the planning stages of developing an expansion of service between Orlando and Tampa using the I-4 right-of-way. In 2014, FDOT began a study of the feasibility of extending the SunRail commuter train line to Daytona Beach, primarily focusing on the use of the I-4 median. The ongoing widening project from SR 44 to I-95 maintains a median wide enough to accommodate a future rail line. State Road 400 ( SR 400 )

1638-670: Is due to the Orlando Executive Airport location just east of downtown. The airport's flight path is over the city center, thus the Federal Aviation Administration has imposed height restrictions. Downtown Orlando is served by three main arteries, two limited access highways, several secondaries, and many byways. Limited Access Arterials Secondaries Public transportation Bus The Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (CFRTA), better known as Lynx , operates

1729-460: Is expected to begin construction in late 2024. Express toll lanes are also being considered for I-4 in the Tampa Bay area . In January 2015, FDOT unveiled its master plan for a system of express toll lanes—dubbed Tampa Bay Express (TBX)—on I-4, I-75, and I-275 and began public meetings for community input. On I-4, these lanes would extend approximately 26 miles (42 km) from I-275 to west of

1820-519: Is located on north Orange Avenue. The US District Court Middle District of Florida's courthouse is located at 401 West Central Boulevard. The United States Postal Service downtown office is located at 51 East Jefferson Street. Loch Haven Park , north of downtown on Mills and Princeton Avenues, serves as the cultural center of Orlando and consists of the following: The "Cultural Park Master Plan" published in 2009, details plans to expand Loch Haven Park to former USDA property located adjacent

1911-520: Is located one city block east of Lake Eola Park. The streets creating its border are: Summerlin Ave, E Robinson St, N Brown Ave, E Central Blvd to S Hyer Ave, and S Hyer Ave south to Florida State Road 408. The area is similar to the Lake Eola Heights neighborhood in that it contains historic homes and the streets are paved with bricks, although it is roughly half the size. Thornton Park also enjoys

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2002-471: Is now located on the fort site). In 1850, a man named Aaron Jernigan built a post office north of the fort and the area became known as "Jernigan". In 1856, Jernigan was relieved of his command of the post office due to "notorious acts" and the area was renamed "Orlando". The village remained little more than a backwater during and after the Civil War until 1875 when The "Town of Orlando" was incorporated. It

2093-654: Is present at mile 12 between Tampa and Plant City. They were opened in January 2009 to replace a pair just west of the SR ;566 interchange at mile 19. I-4 was one of the first Interstate Highways to be constructed in Florida, with the first section opening between Plant City and Lakeland in 1959. By early 1960, the Howard Frankland Bridge was opened to traffic, as well as the segment from

2184-516: Is the historical hub of Orlando's African-American community. The area is located just west of the Central Business district along Division Ave and West Church Street. Now considered an economically depressed area, Orlando leaders are working with business owners in the community to improve the area's reputation. While some parts of the neighborhood have been gentrified, Parramore still maintains its historical African-American identity. It

2275-564: Is the starting point for milemarkers and exit numbers (which are mileage-based ). Just east of Malfunction Junction, I-4 passes along the north side of Tampa's Ybor City district, where a mile-long (1.6 km) connector links to the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway (SR 618) and Port Tampa Bay . I-4 continues east past the Florida State Fairgrounds toward a turbine interchange (uncommon in

2366-602: The Angebilt Hotel and San Juan Hotel. By this time, the city's population had grown to 9,000 people. The federal government's Works Progress Administration programs during the Great Depression helped Orlando remain economically stable. New parks were developed, the Municipal Airport (now Orlando Executive Airport ) was built, and the city also built a new football stadium at Tinker Field (now

2457-645: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission . The fog drifted across I-4, mixing with the smoke and reducing visibility to near-zero conditions. Four people were killed and 38 were injured. The section of I-4 did not reopen until the next day, January 10. The I-4/I-275 interchange (Malfunction Junction) was rebuilt from 2002 to 2007, and I-4 has been widened from four to six lanes (with eight lanes in certain segments). Eastbound I-4 shifted to its new, permanent alignment between Malfunction Junction and 50th Street on August 8, 2006. The new alignment includes

2548-520: The "dead zone", is rumored to be haunted. In 2010, the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council (ECFRPC), using geographic information system technology, performed an analysis to determine if this identified zone had an increased fatality rate related to crashes. The analysis, which compared this section of I-4 to several other dangerous I-4 sections, found that, while the dead zone area did not have

2639-645: The 1960s, but the name "Bumby" is still famous in the city. The location of the hardware store is now a Hamburger Mary's . By the 1920s, Orlando had grown from a cattle town to a major citrus growing center. The Florida land boom of the 1920s brought many newcomers to the city. The population increase led to the construction of the Orlando Public Library in 1923, the Orlando Municipal Auditorium (now Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre) in 1926, and several grand hotels; namely

2730-428: The 1990s, possibly funded by tolls, but proposals for express lanes (including reversible toll lanes and high-occupancy toll [HOT] lanes) were blocked by politics for the next 15 years. In 2012, a legislative ban on tolls along I-4, which had been in place for seven years, ended, and FDOT began soliciting private enterprises to build and help finance the project in a public–private partnership . In February 2013,

2821-486: The 2000s decade. New commercial towers sprouted along Orange Avenue and residential towers were constructed around Lake Eola and along Magnolia Ave. CNL Financial Group established a major footprint in downtown with the construction of CNL City Center Commons, a complex of office towers surrounding Orlando City Hall. CNL continues to expand their presence downtown. As a result of the construction boom, downtown density doubled and Orlando's skyline dramatically changed. In 2005,

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2912-552: The 21-mile (34 km) stretch of highway extending from Kirkman Road (SR 435; exit 75) in Orlando to SR 434 (exit 94) in Longwood . The project broke ground in 2015, and the express lanes opened to traffic on February 26, 2022. Previously, the median of I-4 between Tampa and Orlando was the planned route of a now-canceled high-speed rail line ; however, Brightline , an inter-city rail route, plans to use

3003-704: The CBD. Church Street Station is also located in this area. Many of Orlando's historic buildings are located within the CBD standing next to modern skyscrapers. The Rogers Building (built in 1886), originally an English Gentlemen's Club built in the Queen Anne style, is the oldest building in downtown Orlando and now is home the Downtown Art's District. The Downtown Arts District provides funding support, manages and operates CityArts—a multi-use arts and cultural destination where visual and performing arts co-exist inside

3094-512: The Hillsborough Avenue/US ;301 junction in Tampa to Plant City. The stretch from Lake Monroe to Lake Helen , including the original St. Johns River Veterans Memorial Bridge also opened during that period. The segment from Tampa 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

3185-623: The I-4 right-of-way for their expansion of service to Tampa. From a political standpoint, the "I-4 corridor" is a strategic region given the large number of undecided voters in a large swing state . I-4 maintains a diagonal, northeast–southwest route for much of its length, although it is signed east–west. It roughly follows the original path of the South Florida Railroad built by Henry B. Plant in 1884. The highway starts its eastward journey at an interchange with I-275—known as "Malfunction Junction"—near Downtown Tampa and

3276-824: The I-4 Ultimate, the study is examining an extension through Osceola County to US 27 in Polk County. Northeast of the I-4 Ultimate, the study is examining an extension through Seminole County to SR 472 in Volusia County. In addition to these express lane extensions, many interchanges will be reconstructed as part of the project. Some of these reconstructed interchanges will be converted to diverging diamond interchanges , which are proposed at both CR 532 (exit 58; implemented on July 10, 2022) and SR 482 (exit 74A; implemented on March 9, 2024). A brand new interchange at Daryl Carter Parkway

3367-411: The I-4 interchange in Sanford. When completed in 2023, it will complete the beltway around Orlando, although the southern ends of SR 429 and SR 417 do not connect and are separated by a 3.4-mile (5.5 km) drive along I-4. On October 21, 2022, the first part of this connection opened to traffic, with the westbound I-4 to southbound SR 429 ramp opening to traffic, along with the section of

3458-539: The Orange Avenue corridor, north to Florida Hospital and south to Michigan Avenue. There is also an east/west connection from the Citrus Bowl to South Eola. Rail Downtown is served by an Amtrak station about a mile south of the central business district. The Silver Meteor and Silver Star lines provide train service to New York City , Miami and Tampa. Construction began in 2012 on SunRail ,

3549-546: The Orlando Ballet and Orlando Opera making their home here. Diverse Word, the oldest open mic night in Orlando, is held at Downtown Credo North Quarter on Tuesday nights. With such close proximity to the Central Business District for working professionals, this has become a valuable area for those who seek the convenience of work/play/live in downtown Orlando. Established in the 1880s, Parramore

3640-471: The Orlando City Council chose to implode the 1950s building. The event was met with much local fanfare and was filmed for use in the opening scenes of the 1992 film Lethal Weapon 3 . The area cleared is now occupied by CNL City Center Commons. Until the late 1990s, downtown was relatively small compared to other cities of Orlando's size. A building boom began in 1998 and continued through

3731-562: The Performing Arts , home to Steimetz Hall, one of the world's most acoustically perfect halls, designed to achieve an N1 sound rating. Many major events take place in the Central Business District throughout the year. Creative City Project hosts the annual Immerse Arts Festival, an annual performing and interactive arts event. The festival takes place across 10 city blocks in Downtown Orlando every October. In November,

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3822-619: The Polk Parkway (SR 570). At the junction with I-275, the initial concept alignment calls for a direct connection between the express toll lanes of both highways. Express bus lanes for regional service and a long-distance bus service were studied for inclusion in the plan. The I-4 corridor was considered in the bus lane study, but the resultant proposal included installation only on I-275 and I-75. Connections with two new expressways are planned. The Wekiva Parkway—a 25-mile (40 km) segment of SR 429—will connect to SR 417 at

3913-519: The Roger's Building. Visited by more than 100,000 people annually, CityArts showcases an infusion of local and international works of art, and is home to six independently operated art galleries as well as art collective, Red Tape. In addition to the plethora of bars and corporate offices, the district hosts several prominent theaters including the Mad Cow Theater and Dr. Phillips Center for

4004-667: The South and Thornton Park on the East side of the lake. The park is historically significant and is a frequent venue for events and festivals. The park's most iconic landmark is the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain (locally known as the Lake Eola Fountain), permanently embedded to the bottom with concrete beams in the center of the lake. The fountain is illuminated nightly in various colors with two nightly water shows. In addition to

4095-628: The Tampa–St. Petersburg section of I-4/I-275 was marked as the Tampa Expressway. The Orlando segment was marked as the Orlando Expressway. Both names have since faded from maps. Although many post-1970 interchanges along I-4 were constructed before the recent widening projects, they were designed with I-4 expansion in mind. In other words, there is enough room available to widen I-4 to up to 10 lanes without extensively modifying

4186-580: The Thornton Park Fountain for around $ 17,000 + $ 23,000 for fountain foundation. Howard Middle School, which was the original Orlando High School , is located here. Prior to the arrival of European settlers in 1837, the Orlando area was occupied by the Native American Creek and Seminole tribes. In 1838, Fort Gatlin was built a few miles south of downtown Orlando on the shores of modern-day Lake Gatlin; (a historic marker

4277-1040: The US state of Florida , maintained by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Spanning 132.30 miles (212.92 km) along a generally southwest–northeast axis, I-4 is entirely concurrent with State Road 400 ( SR 400 ). In the west, I-4 begins at an interchange with I-275 in Tampa . I-4 intersects with several major expressways as it traverses Central Florida , including US Highway 41 (US 41) in Tampa; US 301 near Riverview ; I-75 near Brandon ; US 98 in Lakeland ; US 27 in unincorporated Davenport ; US 192 in Celebration ; Florida's Turnpike in Orlando ; and US 17 and US 92 in multiple junctions. In

4368-571: The US) with I-75. After passing near the eastern suburbs of Hillsborough County —including Brandon and Plant City —it enters Polk County , where I-4 crosses along the north side of Lakeland . The Polk Parkway (SR 570) forms a semi-loop through Lakeland's southern suburbs and returns to I-4 at the Florida Polytechnic University campus, near Polk City ; it does not serve as a bypass route for I-4 traffic. Just after

4459-495: The Ultimate, which includes proposed extensions of the I-4 Express toll lanes, both southwest and northeast of the I-4 Ultimate project, are being considered. In 2013, FDOT initiated a study to reevaluate previous feasibility studies, made between 1998 and 2005, in which the addition of HOV or express toll lanes were considered. The extensions cover approximately 40 miles (64 km) of I-4 through Greater Orlando. Southwest of

4550-682: The area outside of City Hall hosts FusionFest. The festival is sponsored by the Downtown Arts District and support from Orange County Government, the Orlando Downtown Development Board, the Dr. Phillips Center, and a growing grassroots movement. Lake Eola Park is located in South Eola , east of the CBD. The park is bordered by the Lake Eola Heights neighborhood north of the lake, South Eola Heights to

4641-564: The arrival of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1890 brought tremendous growth. Commercial activity shifted away from the courthouse and moved to the new railroad depot located on Church Street. Settlers from England arrived in Orlando and established homes and businesses. One of the newly arrived Englishmen was named Joseph Bumby. He and his family settled in the town and built a hardware store known as "Bumby Hardware Store". The store remained an Orlando fixture until

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4732-419: The border of this area is Interstate 4 to the west, and Highland Avenue to the east, the north border is N Orange Ave & the I-4 on-ramps at Lake Ivanhoe. This is a vibrant area that has seen many apartments and condominiums built, bringing a diverse collection of businesses including dining and shopping to the area. As one of the cheaper neighborhoods in the downtown area, with many artists including members of

4823-476: The downtown area. During this time, development in downtown was mainly focused upon the construction of office towers, such as the Citrus Center and the original Sunbank building. However, downtown began to fall into a state of decline. The Angebilt Hotel and San Juan Hotel were abandoned and left to crumble. The San Juan was eventually demolished in 1980, but the Angebilt Hotel at 37 N Orange Ave which

4914-511: The east by Interstate 4 and on the west by Orange Blossom Trail . The central business district is Orlando's Financial District and is the most recognized feature of downtown. The majority of Orlando's night clubs are also in this area. Located here are corporate offices for banks Wells Fargo , Seacoast, FifthThird Bank, and Suntrust banks, tech companies, restaurants, Orlando City Hall , foreign consulates , and many hotels. SunTrust Center and City Commons are two large office complexes within

5005-542: The east, I-4 ends at an interchange with I-95 in Daytona Beach , while SR 400 continues for roughly another four miles (6.4 km) and ends at an intersection with US 1 on the city line of Daytona Beach and South Daytona . Construction on I-4 began in 1958; the first segment opened in 1959, and the entire highway was completed in 1965. The "I-4 Ultimate" project oversaw the construction of variable-toll express lanes and numerous redevelopments through

5096-652: The entire length of I-4 has at least six lanes (three or more per direction). I-4 terminates at a junction with I-95 in Daytona Beach. SR 400 continues east into Daytona Beach four miles (6.4 km) to US 1. I-4 has two pairs of rest areas , one near Polk City and the other near Longwood . At each location, there are separate facilities on opposite sides of the freeway that provide services to traffic in both directions. The rest areas all provide disabled facilities with restrooms, picnic tables, drinking water, pet exercise areas, outside night lights, telephones, vending machines, and nighttime security. FDOT closed

5187-423: The entire projected construction cost—to build the line, with work on the project to begin in 2011 and be completed by 2014. However, Governor Rick Scott 's rejection of the funding ended the project. On January 9, 2008, 70 vehicles were involved in a large pileup on I-4 near Polk City . The pileup was caused by an unexpected thick morning fog that was mixed with a scheduled—and approved—environmental burn by

5278-584: The first part of this connection opened to traffic, with the westbound I-4 to southbound SR 429 ramp opening to traffic, along with the section of the southbound lanes between the ramp and SR 46. North of Sanford, I-4 is carried by the St. Johns River Veterans Memorial Bridge over the St. Johns River at the mouth of Lake Monroe . Along the bridge, I-4 enters Volusia County and passes Deltona and DeLand . The segment north of SR 44 has been widened from four to six lanes. Completed in winter 2016–2017,

5369-618: The fountain, the park features swan boat rentals and the Walt Disney Amphitheater . Every Independence Day , the park is host to a large fireworks display which draws thousands of people to downtown. A 0.85-mile (1.37 km) recreational pathway circles the park and leads to a playground. Lake Eola Heights is unique in Orlando as it contains some of the oldest homes in the city and is one of Orlando's historic districts. There are many historical "Florida style" bungalows and century-old oak lined brick streets. Thornton Park

5460-402: The highest accident or fatality rate, it did identify that the percentage of fatality to accident was significantly higher in this location. Multiple hurricanes, including three category 4 hurricanes ( Donna , Charley , and Ian ) have also passed over that area. The median of I-4 between Tampa and Orlando was slated to be used for the Florida High-Speed Corridor line between those cities. As

5551-430: The interchange. The 50th Street overpass, however, would 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 Tampa, the exit to 40th Street ( SR 569 ), exit 2,

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5642-553: The interchanges. Some of these interchanges include the I-75 stack (constructed in the 1980s) and several interchanges serving the Walt Disney World Resort (constructed in the late 1980s and early 1990s). In 2002, I-4, along with most of Florida's Interstates, switched over from a sequential exit numbering system to a mileage-based exit numbering system. A section of I-4 between Daytona Beach and Orlando, called

5733-519: The new eastbound onramp from SR 408 . The westbound offramp to Gore Street was permanently closed in the same project on November 2, 2008. The new overpass from I-4 west to John Young Parkway (CR 423) opened the morning of April 27, 2006. The final four-lane segment of I-4, from SR 44 to I-95, was widened to six lanes. Completed in winter 2016–2017, the whole highway is at least six lanes wide. A $ 2.3-billion (in year-of-expenditure dollars) project—dubbed I-4 Ultimate—reconstructed

5824-595: The nonconcurrent SR 400 are classified as a "scenic thoroughfare" within Daytona Beach. In the 2004 US presidential election in Florida , the I-4 corridor , a commonly used term to refer to the counties in which I-4 runs through and a site of significant population growth, was a focus of political activity within the swing state . 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

5915-429: The park around the same time the annual "Orlando Shakespeare Festival" was established. On the other hand, downtown's population base still had yet to rebound to previous levels and major corporations were still opening locations outside of the city center. The Orlando City Hall building, the city's third, opened in 1991 directly behind the previous City Hall, constructed in 1958. To clear the area for future development,

6006-923: The park, and calling for additional cultural institutions to be housed onsite. Major hotels in downtown Orlando include: Downtown is home to the Kia Center (formerly Amway Center) which hosts the Orlando Magic NBA team, the Orlando Solar Bears ECHL team, and the Orlando Predators Arena Football League team. Camping World Stadium in addition to being home of the Orlando Guardians XFL team and Orlando City Soccer Club for 2015 & 2016 also hosts The Capital One Bowl in addition to other events year round. Tinker Field

6097-562: The passage of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users federal transportation bill in 2005, introduced by US Representative John Mica . The plan for tolled express lanes is now moving forward as part of the $ 2.3-billion I-4 Ultimate project. Interim improvements to the interchange at SR 408 were completed at the end of 2008. The eastbound exit to Robinson Street ( SR 526 ) permanently closed on April 25, 2006, to make way for construction of

6188-412: The regional bus service with its central station and offices located at 455 N Garland Avenue. Lynx Operates a zero-fare bus route called Lymmo (Link 31) along a completely separate and dedicated right-of-way . Because this bus system runs on its own right-of-way and controls the traffic signaling, in most cases it is superior to automobile travel within the downtown area. Lymmo service also runs along

6279-489: The same area. The demolition was used in the movie Lethal Weapon 3 . Downtown Orlando Downtown Orlando is the largest of urban centers in Central Florida . It is home to residential and commercial towers; local, state, and federal government offices; sports facilities; performing arts theaters; art galleries; retail; restaurants; nightclubs; and parks. Downtown is removed from the tourist areas located in

6370-550: The service to multiple additional points south. Connections to the Orlando International Airport (MCO) and to other lines connecting to South Florida (All Aboard Florida) are being evaluated. Air The Orlando Executive Airport is located 4 miles (6.4 km) east of the CBD. While technically not in downtown proper, the airport serves the downtown district. Orlando City Hall is located on Orange Avenue and South Street. The Orange County Courthouse

6461-593: The site of Florida Citrus Bowl ). By 1944, enough jobs were created to increase the city's population to 45,000 people. Orlando became a major military center when World War II brought the development of McCoy Air Force Base and Pinecastle AFB, located southeast of downtown. This status intensified with the 1968 opening of the Orlando Naval Training Center east of downtown. Walt Disney World 's 1971 opening in southwest Orange County brought major development to Orlando, but relatively little to

6552-415: The southbound lanes between the ramp and SR 46. The Central Polk Parkway is a planned tolled expressway in eastern Polk County that will connect I-4 near Davenport with the Polk Parkway near Bartow ; it is currently in the design phase, but funding for right-of-way acquisition of the initial segments is not planned until fiscal year 2019–2020. Additionally, FDOT is conducting a feasibility study for

6643-1056: The southwestern half of the city, but it draws visitors seeking to experience the "Real Orlando". It is also the location of numerous festivals, parades, concerts, political demonstrations, and other high-profile events. There are seven official neighborhoods with significant portions inside the Downtown Orlando Community Redevelopment Area (CRA): The CRA also includes small pieces of College Park (portions east of Peachtree Road, and along Orange Avenue between Magnolia and Highland Avenues), Lake Cherokee (portions west of Delaney Avenue and north of Ponce de Leon Place / Palmer Street), Lorna Doone ( Camping World Stadium only), Park Lake/Highland (portion north of Lake Highland), South Division (portion north of Gore Street, mostly highway right-of-way), South Orange (portion north of Gore Street), and Thornton Park (portion north of Central Boulevard and west of James Avenue). Located north of Colonial Drive,

6734-472: The state legislature and governor gave approval for FDOT to proceed with the public–private partnership on this section of I-4 in February 2013, and, the following year, FDOT selected I-4 Mobility Partners to design, construct, finance, maintain, and operate the project for 40 years. FDOT and I-4 Mobility Partners reached commercial and financial close, and a public–private partnership concession agreement

6825-463: The state without winning the region. The Republicans carried the region three times while the Democrats carried the region five times in the past eight presidential elections. Republicans George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush won more votes than other candidates in 1992, 2000, and 2004, while Democrats Bill Clinton , Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton , and Joe Biden captured the region's vote total in

6916-440: The state. It played an equally key role in the 2008 US presidential election in Florida but, whereas the corridor had voted heavily for George W. Bush in 2004, which helped Bush win the state, in 2008, it swung behind Democratic candidate Barack Obama , helping Obama win Florida. Between 1996 and 2012, the I-4 corridor voted for the statewide winner. However, in the 2016 and 2020 elections, Republican Donald Trump carried

7007-495: The suburbs. Efforts to revitalize downtown began in the mid-1970s and continued into the 1980s. Bob Snow opened Rosie O'Grady's in 1974 at Church Street Station , which quickly became a popular attraction. In the mid-1980s, several skyscrapers were constructed; including SunTrust Center and Barnett Plaza (now Bank of America Center). Lake Eola Park was redesigned and the Walt Disney Amphitheater opened in

7098-597: The tallest towers in Central Florida are located downtown. Of the 79 existing high-rises in the Greater Orlando region, 46 are located downtown. The tallest high-rises in Orlando are: Towers built in downtown Orlando have not exceeded 441 ft (134 m) since the completion of the Suntrust Center in 1988. There has never been an "official" reason why, but local architects speculate it

7189-467: The term " Manhattanization " was locally applied to Orange Avenue when a large number of construction cranes loomed over downtown. The late 2000s recession slowed large intensity skyscraper construction; but infill development continued downtown including construction of the Amway Center in 2009. In 2011, construction began on phase one of the long-awaited Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts across from City Hall along Orange Ave. The majority of

7280-1011: The west side. For the next 40 miles (64 km), I-4 passes through Greater Orlando, where the highway forms the main north–south artery. It enters Orange County , passes through Walt Disney World and by SeaWorld Orlando and Universal Orlando , and intersects all of the area's major toll roads , including the Beachline Expressway (SR 528), Florida's Turnpike , and the East–West Expressway (SR 408). Orlando's main tourist strip — International Drive —runs parallel and no more than 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from I-4 between Kissimmee and Florida's Turnpike. Between Michigan Street and Kaley Avenue (about mile 81), I-4 turns due north (while still being signed east–west), heading past Downtown Orlando and its northern suburbs. A 21-mile (34 km) section of I-4 from west of SR 435 to east of SR 434 (miles 75–96) underwent

7371-429: The western junction with the Polk Parkway, I-4 turns from an eastward to a northeastward heading. Between SR 33 (at exit 38) and US 27 , I-4 passes through the fog-prone Green Swamp , although the landscape beside the highway is mostly forest as opposed to water-logged swampland. Ten variable-message signs and dozens of cameras and vehicle detection systems monitor this stretch of mostly-rural highway as

7462-445: Was a historic ballpark adjacent to Camping World Stadium. Inter&Co Stadium is the home of Orlando Pride . Resulting from Orlando's reputation as a major international destination and many countries establishing consulates in the city, Orlando now has the second highest number of foreign consulates in Florida next to Miami . Interstate 4 Interstate 4 ( I-4 ) is an Interstate Highway located entirely within

7553-404: Was built in 1923 would be transformed in modern times into an office building with retail on the ground floor. Lake Eola Park became a haven for prostitutes and drug addicts. In addition, downtown department stores and family owned businesses closed or moved to the newly constructed Orlando Fashion Square mall. After the opening of Interstate 4, the downtown population base moved out of downtown to

7644-533: Was built over the highway near Maitland Boulevard, with a second pedestrian bridge being built over SR 435 at the intersection with both Major Boulevard and Tom Williams Way. A pedestrian tunnel was constructed under SR 436. The project also reduced the curve radius and improved line-of-sight along the notorious Fairbanks Curve south of Fairbanks Avenue , which is the most accident-prone section of I-4. FDOT proposed adding barrier-separated high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes to I-4 through Greater Orlando in

7735-456: Was centered around the original Orange County Courthouse in between today's Court Avenue and Magnolia Avenue (originally named "Main Street"). A fire in 1884 almost destroyed the entire town. Before the fire, most of the structures in Orlando were built with wood and the town was without fire protection. The town began to rebuild and a fire brigade was formed. Orlando became a city in 1885 and

7826-448: Was closed and demolished in late 2005 due to the ongoing reconstruction of I-4 and to accommodate a proposed connector highway with the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway . The interchange with what is today I-75 was constructed in the early 1980s. As Orlando grew in the 1970s and 1980s, traffic became a growing concern, especially after the construction of the original interchange with the East–West Expressway in 1973, which proved to become

7917-547: Was executed in September 2014. The final design phase began in October 2014. On February 1, 2015, FDOT turned the project over to I-4 Mobility Partners, and, on February 18, transportation officials and the governor held a groundbreaking ceremony for the project in Maitland. After seven years of construction, the express lanes opened to traffic the morning of February 26, 2022, and began tolling on March 3, 2022. I-4 Beyond

8008-506: Was extended to I-4. Improvements to the US ;192 junction were completed in 2007. The St. Johns River Veterans Memorial Bridge , a two-span, six-lane replacement to the original four-lane bridge over the St. Johns River northeast of Orlando, was completed in 2004. During the early 2000s, tolled express lanes were being planned in the Orlando area as a traffic congestion relief technique for rush-hour commuters. The name for them

8099-500: Was set at Central Avenue ( County Road 150 [CR 150]) in St. Petersburg , though a non-Interstate extension would have continued south and west to Pasadena . Proposed I-4 was later extended southwest to the present location of I-275 exit 20, with a planned temporary end at US 19 and 13th Avenue South, and a continuation to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge was also designated as part of I-4. Construction

8190-475: Was stalled at 9th Street North ( CR 803 ) for several years. The entire Interstate Highway was completed by the late 1960s; however, the western terminus was truncated to Malfunction Junction in 1971 when I-75 was extended over the Howard Frankland Bridge. Eventually, that stretch was again redesignated to become part of I-275. In maps and atlases dating to the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s,

8281-419: Was to be Xpress 400, numbered after the state road designation for I-4. The express lanes were slated to extend from Universal Orlando , east to SR 434 in Longwood , and tolls were to be collected electronically via transponders like SunPass and Central Florida Expressway Authority 's E-PASS , with prices dependent on the congestion of the eight mainlanes. However, the project was effectively banned by

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