Governor Ron DeSantis, in collaboration with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), has announced the acceleration of several infrastructure projects under the “Moving Florida Forward” initiative. These projects, including the widening of I-4 in Osceola and Polk counties and the Poinciana Parkway Connector Project in Osceola County, are set to begin 10 to 20 years ahead of their original schedule.
“Under my watch, Florida’s Department of Transportation will be solely focused on transporting people, unlike the federal government’s politicization of our national Department of Transportation,” stated Governor Ron DeSantis. He emphasized that these major transportation upgrades are fully funded and progressing ahead of schedule due to this approach.
FDOT Secretary Jared W. Perdue expressed gratitude for the Governor’s vision, stating that it would bring significant improvements for nearly 200,000 travelers seeking congestion relief in Central Florida. “Transportation needs to be about the movement of people and goods over political ideologies,” he said.
The I-4 Moving Florida Forward projects involve widening 14.7 miles from six to ten lanes in Osceola and Polk counties. This includes managed express lanes aimed at reducing congestion for all motorists. The project also plans to widen road shoulders for emergency evacuations and rework interchanges to alleviate backups along ramps. Construction is scheduled to start this fall.
Additionally, the Poinciana Parkway Connector project will construct a crucial 2.6-mile roadway through a busy section of Osceola County, linking I-4 with SR 429/Western Beltway and SR 538/Poinciana Parkway. Previously unfunded and expected to start by 2034 at the earliest, FDOT has now expedited its delivery schedule by integrating most work into ongoing I-4 projects starting later this year.
House Bill 1301 was signed into law by Governor DeSantis, granting FDOT authority to complete these initiatives while emphasizing infrastructure priorities over political ideology. The bill aims to reduce congestion, support supply chains, enhance quality of life in Florida, and ensure prudent spending on transportation.
