Interstate 4, Interstate highway in Hillsborough County and Volusia County, United States
Interstate 4 is a highway in Florida extending roughly 132 miles (212 kilometers) from Tampa on the west coast to Daytona Beach on the Atlantic shore. The route passes through six counties and crosses major cities such as Lakeland, Orlando, and Sanford along the way.
The first construction segments were laid down in the late 1950s, with the opening of an initial section in 1959. By the mid-1960s, the entire route was completed and allowed continuous travel between both coasts of central Florida.
This highway crosses through densely developed metro areas and links several theme parks to surrounding towns. Along the route, shopping malls and housing developments have shaped the growth of central Florida's population centers.
Those using the route will find numerous connections to other highways along with regularly spaced rest stops and fuel stations. Traffic is typically heavy, particularly around rush hours and on weekends near the Orlando area.
In the central stretch between Tampa and Orlando, the two directional carriageways run separately through different terrain strips, creating a wide median between them. This space was originally reserved for a high-speed rail system and is now intended for use by a private passenger train operator.
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