The Roads Around Disney World Are About To CHANGE…for the Better (We Hope)

Have you ever driven to Disney World?

Sure, flying might be easier, depending on where you live, but sometimes driving is just more convenient (and cheaper). Plus, a Disney road trip can be fun! However, if you’ve ever spent time driving in the Orlando area, you know that it’s sometimes NOT so much fun and can be a hassle. A new massive road construction project could potentially change that.

According to The Orlando Sentinel, a massive new road construction project was revealed by Florida’s transportation department. The project is meant to ease the congestion along Interstate 4. The project will cover a total of 14 miles, starting at State Road 536 near Disney Springs and ending at U.S. Highway 27 in Polk County. It’s a HUGE undertaking, though, so it will take about a decade to complete.

That stretch of I-4 currently carries 200,000 vehicles daily, with that number expected to go up to 250,000 by 2050. This 14-mile project between Disney World and U.S. 27 will also act as an extension of a current road construction project on I-4 that extends from S.R. 536 at Disney World to Kirkman Road.

So why is this needed? Well, if you’ve driven that span of roadway, it’s probably no surprise that 12 miles of that segment ranks as the most congested corridor in Florida, as well as the 10th most congested corridor in the entire U.S. It’s not pretty. The traffic here is often an annoying combination of stop-and-go. As expected, a lot of that traffic comes from tourism.

Of course, this means that you might encounter significant road construction if you drive to Disney World soon. A spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transportation has said that the agency expects “significant challenges” with traffic along that stretch while construction is happening. However, bids will be looked at for maintaining smooth traffic during construction.

Work on the road project will begin later this year with designing and clearing the site. So if you’re headed to Disney World in late 2024, expect to encounter some road construction on your way.

We’ll be keeping an eye out for more news that could impact your next trip to Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for more.

Here’s What It’s Really Like To Stay at a Disney Hotel That’s Under Construction. (Spoiler: It Was Awful)

What do you think of this road project? Let us know in the comments!

The post The Roads Around Disney World Are About To CHANGE…for the Better (We Hope) first appeared on the disney food blog.