Editing Interstate 4 (section)

====I-4 Ultimate Project====
[[File:I-4 Ultimate Express Lanes.jpg|alt=An aerial view of the I-4 Ultimate Express Lanes near Winter Park, FL.|left|thumb|upright=0.75|An aerial view of the I-4 Ultimate Express Lanes near Winter Park]]
A $2.3-billion (in year-of-expenditure dollars) project—dubbed I-4 Ultimate—reconstructed a {{convert|21|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch of I-4 through Orlando from SR&nbsp;435 (exit&nbsp;75) east to SR&nbsp;434 (exit 94).<ref>{{cite web |author = Staff |url = http://www.moving-4-ward.com |title = Future I-4 Improvements |work = Moving-4-Ward |publisher = Florida Department of Transportation |access-date = February 18, 2013 }}</ref> The most noticeable change is the addition of four [[High-occupancy toll lane|variable-toll express lanes]] along this section, called I-4 Express.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The toll rates maintain an average speed of {{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. Additionally, the general-use lanes were rebuilt, 15 major interchanges were reconfigured, 53 new bridges were added, and 75&nbsp;bridges were replaced.<ref name="I-4 Ultimate FAQ">{{cite web |title = FAQs |url = http://i4ultimate.com/project-info/faqs/ |website = I-4 Ultimate |date = July 9, 2014 |publisher = Florida Department of Transportation |access-date = January 22, 2015 }}</ref> A pedestrian bridge was built over the highway near Maitland Boulevard, with a second pedestrian bridge being built over SR&nbsp;435 at the intersection with both Major Boulevard and Tom Williams Way.<ref name="I-4 Ultimate Special features">{{cite web |title = Special Features |url = http://i4ultimate.com/project-info/special-features/ |website = I-4 Ultimate |date = July 9, 2014 |publisher = Florida Department of Transportation |access-date = February 19, 2015 }}</ref> A pedestrian tunnel was constructed under SR&nbsp;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.<ref name="I-4 Ultimate: Fairbanks Curve">{{cite web |title = Fairbanks Ave. / Winter Park |url = http://i4ultimate.com/project-info/future-i-4/#info587 |website = I-4 Ultimate |date = July 9, 2014 |publisher = Florida Department of Transportation |access-date = February 19, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="WFTV: Fairbanks Curve">{{cite news |title = I-4 Ultimate Project to Address Dangerous Fairbanks Curve |url = http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/i-4-ultimate-project-addres-dangerous-fairbanks-cu/nkDhP/ |access-date = February 19, 2015 |location = Orlando |publisher = [[WFTV-TV]] |date = February 18, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150219135323/http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/i-4-ultimate-project-addres-dangerous-fairbanks-cu/nkDhP/ |archive-date = February 19, 2015 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

FDOT proposed adding barrier-separated [[high-occupancy vehicle]] (HOV) lanes to I-4 through Greater Orlando in the 1990s, possibly funded by tolls,<ref name="I-4 special lanes 1993">{{cite news |last1 = Roy |first1 = Roger |title = Express Lanes Lead Alternatives to Avoid I-4 Jams |url = https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/08/23/express-lanes-lead-alternatives-to-avoid-i-4-jams/ |access-date = February 19, 2015 |work = Orlando Sentinel |date = August 23, 1993 |archive-date = February 19, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150219150550/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1993-08-23/news/9308230319_1_express-lanes-new-lanes-special-lanes |url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="I-4 special lanes 1995">{{cite news |last1 = Roger |first1 = Roy |title = I-4 Plan: Promote Car Pools, Light Rail |url = https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1995/08/18/i-4-plan-promote-car-pools-light-rail/ |access-date = February 19, 2015 |work = Orlando Sentinel |date = August 18, 1995 |archive-date = February 19, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150219150818/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1995-08-18/news/9508180126_1_kimbler-express-lanes-car-pools |url-status = live }}</ref> but proposals for express lanes (including reversible toll lanes and [[high-occupancy toll]] [HOT] lanes) were blocked by politics for the next 15&nbsp;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]].<ref name="Sentinel 2012: ban ends">{{cite news |last1 = Tracy |first1 = Dan |title = State Seeks Investors to Help Foot Bill to Build I-4 Toll Lanes |url = https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2012/07/08/state-seeks-investors-to-help-foot-bill-to-build-i-4-toll-lanes/ |access-date = February 19, 2015 |work = Orlando Sentinel |date = July 8, 2012 |archive-date = February 19, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150219151148/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-08/news/os-interstate-4-tolls-20120708_1_lexus-lanes-toll-lanes-toll-money |url-status = live }}</ref> In February 2013, 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,<ref name="I-4 Ultimate approval to launch P3">{{cite news |last1 = Orben |first1 = Bill |title = FDOT Gets Backing on $2.1B I-4 Project |url = http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/morning_call/2013/02/fdot-gets-backing-on-21b-i-4-project.html |work = Orlando Business Journal |access-date = February 19, 2015 |date = February 4, 2013 }}</ref> and, the following year, FDOT selected I-4 Mobility Partners to design, construct, finance, maintain, and operate the project for 40&nbsp;years. FDOT and I-4 Mobility Partners reached commercial and financial close, and a public–private partnership concession agreement was executed in September 2014.<ref>{{cite press release |title = FDOT and I-4 Mobility Partners Reach Commercial and Financial Close for I-4 Ultimate Project |url = http://i4ultimate.com/documents/2014/09/2014-09-05-I-4-Ultimate-Press-Release-Fin-and-Comm-Close.pdf |website = I-4 Ultimate |publisher = Florida Department of Transportation |access-date = January 22, 2015 |date = September 9, 2014 }}</ref> The final design phase began in October 2014.<ref>{{cite news |last1 = Fluker |first1 = Anjali |title = FDOT Shares New I-4 Ultimate Design, Construction Milestones |url = http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/blog/2014/11/fdot-shares-new-i-4-ultimate-design-construction.html?page=all |access-date = January 22, 2015 |work = Orlando Business Journal |date = November 3, 2014 }}</ref> On February 1, 2015, FDOT turned the project over to I-4 Mobility Partners,<ref name="I-4 Mobility Partners take over project">{{cite news |last1 = Vargas |first1 = Lena |title = I-4 Ultimate Project Underway in Orange, Seminole Counties |url = http://www.mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2015/2/1/i4_ultimate.html |access-date = February 18, 2015 |location = Orlando |publisher = Central Florida News 13 |date = February 2, 2015 }}</ref> and, on February 18, transportation officials and the governor held a groundbreaking ceremony for the project in Maitland.<ref name=Sentinel-groundbreaking>{{cite news |last1 = Tracy |first1 = Dan |title = I-4 Ultimate Overhaul Gets Ceremonial Start |url = http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-i4-official-groundbreaking-20150217-story.html |access-date = February 18, 2015 |work = Orlando Sentinel }}</ref> After seven years of construction, the express lanes opened to traffic the morning of February 26, 2022, and began tolling on March 3, 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1 = Spear |first1 = Kevin |title = I-4 Express lanes are expected to open by month's end |url = https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/transportation/os-ne-i4-toll-lane-open-soon-20220209-srzpvkyil5gj5jdhnra554efpu-story.html |access-date = February 16, 2022 |work = Orlando Sentinel |date = February 9, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date = February 25, 2022 |title = I-4 Express Opening February 26 |url = https://i4express.com/2022/02/25/i-4-express-opening-february-26/ |access-date = March 17, 2022 |website = I4Express.com |language = en-US |archive-date = March 16, 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220316153831/https://i4express.com/2022/02/25/i-4-express-opening-february-26/ |url-status = dead }}</ref>