Westbound I-4 Express closes overnight Oct. 27 from John Young Parkway to past Kirkman Road

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will close every lane of westbound I-4 Express overnight Tuesday into Wednesday. The closure runs from John Young Parkway (S.R. 423) "to the end of I-4 Express just west of Kirkman Road (S.R. 435)", from "as early as 11 p.m. Tuesday night, October 27" until "5:30 a.m. the following morning, Wednesday, October 28." WFTV reported the same closure on Oct. 21, 2026.

What changed

• Why: FDOT says "This closure is necessary to remove temporary barrier wall."
• What follows: after the wall is removed, "crews will restripe the right lane of westbound I-4 Express at the Kirkman Road overpass, where the current continuous lane closure is in place. Once restriping is complete, crews will reopen the lane."
• The right-lane closure: WFTV reported on Sept. 11 that FDOT would close all westbound I-4 Express lanes from John Young Parkway to just west of Kirkman Road overnight Monday, Sept. 14 and Tuesday, Sept. 15, and that "after the initial night of work," crews would "permanently close the right lane on westbound I-4 Express just east of the Kirkman Road overpass". WFTV said that closure "will remain in place until the overhead sign construction is completed." That was the plan as reported; this post does not confirm the date it began.
• The project: the work is part of FDOT project 444315-1, "I-4 at Sand Lake Road Interchange from east of S.R. 528 to west of S.R. 435". FDOT's project page says "The interchange is being reconstructed as a diverging diamond (DDI)." It lists the project start as "Spring 2023" and the estimated completion as "Late 2027".

When

• The closure: from as early as 11 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, to 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026.
• The backup night: "If this work is not completed as scheduled, the same closure and detour will occur during the same hours overnight on Wednesday, October 28." WFTV gives the backup as 11 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28 through 5:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29.
• Schedules can move: FDOT says "Construction schedules are subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances."
• Last checked: FDOT's notice was re-read on Oct. 26, 2026, and was unchanged.

Where

• Westbound I-4 Express, from John Young Parkway (S.R. 423) to the end of I-4 Express just west of Kirkman Road (S.R. 435), in Orange County.

What it means if you live here

• The detour: FDOT says westbound express drivers "will be directed to exit the express lanes onto the westbound Interstate 4 (I-4) general-use lanes near John Young Parkway (local exits 78-74AB)." WFTV describes it as the exit marked "Local Exits 78-74AB."
• Ramps: "Access to and from westbound I-4 Express direct connect ramps at Florida’s Turnpike and Grand National Drive will be restricted as part of the closure."
• Eastbound and the general-use lanes: FDOT's notice names only westbound I-4 Express.
• If you drive this stretch late Tuesday night, plan on the general-use lanes from John Young Parkway west. If the work slips, plan on the same overnight Wednesday.