When Michele Peck moved to Auburndale in 1998, the town had a quiet, laid-back feel. “It was a very peaceful, sleepy town back then,” Peck shared with Bay News 9.
Today, however, Polk County has become one of the nation’s fastest-growing areas, with nearly 30,000 new residents arriving last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. With this surge in population has come a significant increase in traffic.
“A lot of people commute to Tampa or Orlando for work, and that’s leading to heavy backups every morning,” Peck said.
Peck is especially concerned about the rising congestion on I-4, particularly around the entrance and exit ramps for State Road 559 near her Auburndale home.
“It can take up to 25 minutes just to get onto the ramp. There’s no light, no traffic circle, nothing—just waiting,” Peck explained.
Traffic heading east toward Orlando can be a constant slowdown, she added. “Once you hit US 27, it’s all stop-and-go until you pass Champions Gate,” she said. It’s something people traveling from Pinellas and Hillsborough counties can attest to as they usually experience heavy congestion and slowdowns trying to visit theme parks, like Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal.
She and thousands of others hope for improvements, particularly around the SR-559 interchange and expanded lanes along I-4.
“Five lanes all the way through, with an express lane, since you’re going city to city,” Peck suggested.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, current work near SR-559 includes installing a new traffic light at the I-4 interchange, aimed at easing congestion in that area.
For the broader I-4 traffic issue, FDOT’s “Moving Florida Forward” initiative includes plans for new lanes and express lanes on I-4 from US 27 to Champions Gate. Construction is expected to begin in 2026-2027.
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(Image credit: Philippe Desmazes / AFP/Getty Images)
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