BARTOW, FL — Governor Ron DeSantis announces major steps for congestion relief in central Florida. These include 17 miles of new express lanes on Interstate 4 (I-4) in Hillsborough County and a new truck parking facility along the I-4 corridor in Polk County. The state is also breaking ground on the nation’s first infrastructure for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), an entirely new mode of transportation.

“Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ leadership, we’ve successfully brought revolutionary congestion relief projects to life for Florida’s residents and visitors,” said Jared W. Perdue, PE, Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). “Our work to accelerate congestion relief, especially along the I-4 corridor, is a commitment we will continue to deliver on.”

FDOT will be constructing 17 miles of a new single express lane facility on I-4 in Hillsborough County in both directions from Interstate 75 (I-75) to County Line Road. These express lanes will bring significant congestion relief to the traveling public by separating long-distance traffic from local commuter traffic, providing additional reliable travel options and enhancing the quality of life for residents traveling in the area. This project will be advanced by ten years, with construction expected to begin in 2028.

To further support Florida’s freight traffic along the I-4 corridor, which has one of the largest truck parking deficits throughout the state, FDOT will also be constructing a new 100-space truck parking facility in Polk County at the Polk Parkway and I-4 interchange. The new truck parking facility will utilize existing right of way within the interchange.

The construction of the first of two AAM vertiports is officially underway at FDOT’s SunTrax testing facility, which will be expanded to a statewide network of interconnected commercial vertiports. This facility will establish the nation’s first-ever AAM aerial test bed and dedicated airspace.