Auxiliary Lanes Toolkit
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FAQs

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has made several recent improvements to Interstate 4 (I-4) in Osceola, Seminole, and Orange counties, including adding auxiliary lanes, as part of the I-4 Beyond the Ultimate program. These improvements add capacity and reduce bottlenecks caused by drivers attempting to enter or exit the highway.

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What is an auxiliary lane?
  • An auxiliary lane is an additional lane that typically connects the entrance and exit ramps of two consecutive interchanges. The additional lane allows drivers wanting to merge onto or off the interstate a longer distance to do so and helps reduce bottlenecks caused by drivers attempting to enter or exit the highway. This improvement increases capacity and improves traffic flow in the area.
  • Auxiliary lanes act as a buffer, providing drivers with more time to adjust their speed and safely merge into the flow of traffic.
  • These lanes are strategically designed to facilitate smoother traffic flow and enhance safety for all drivers.
How to use auxiliary lanes
  • If you are entering I-4 and wish to get off at the next exit, stay in the auxiliary lane as it guides you to the next exit.
  • If you are entering I-4 and do not wish to get off at the next exit, stay in the auxiliary lane, which is separated by a white dotted line, use your left turn signal to indicate you want to change lanes, and accelerate to highway speed before merging into the general use lane to your left.
  • When exiting I-4 from the general use lanes, use your right turn signal to indicate you want to change lanes, move into the auxiliary lane on the right, and slow down as you approach the end of the auxiliary lane and the start of the exit ramp.
When should you not use auxiliary lanes?
  • Auxiliary lanes are not intended to be used by drivers who wish to pass other cars in the general use lanes.If you are continuing through an area with an auxiliary lane, remain in the general use lanes. Remember that drivers in the auxiliary lanes will have to merge into the general use lanes at the end of the auxiliary lane. Having additional vehicles in the auxiliary lanes creates more congestion for everyone.
How are auxiliary lanes identified?
  • Auxiliary lane markings are composed of shorter, more frequent white dashes (see photo below).
Auxiliary lane markings
Do auxiliary lanes improve safety?
  • Auxiliary lanes allow drivers more time and distance to merge safely into the general use lanes or into the auxiliary lane ahead of their exit.
How do auxiliary lanes improve I-4?
  • Auxiliary lanes make I-4 easier to use by allowing drivers that are taking shorter trips to avoid merging with the other vehicles, especially if they just want to enter the highway and drive to the next exit.
Will auxiliary lanes be included in projects funded through the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative?
  • The Interstate 75 (I-75) from State Road (S.R.) 44 to S.R. 326 project involves adding auxiliary lanes to I-75 in each direction between S.R. 44 and S.R. 326. Additionally, the I-4 projects from ChampionsGate to Osceola Parkway and from U.S. 27 to ChampionsGate will construct auxiliary lanes.
Where are auxiliary lanes located?
  • For the I-4 Beyond the Ultimate projects, a new auxiliary lane on eastbound I-4 between County Road (C.R.) 532 and S.R. 429 opened in early May 2023. The westbound I-4 auxiliary lane from S.R. 429 to C.R. 532 opened in July 2023. A new eastbound auxiliary lane was completed in 2021 from the end of I-4 Ultimate to Lake Mary Boulevard as part of the E.E. Williamson Bridge improvements project. Other auxiliary lanes along I-4 near I-4 Express can be found on the map below.
auxiliary lanes location

Articles

Auxiliary Lanes Helping to Increase Capacity and Safety on I-4

To accommodate the increasing number of visitors and residents coming to Central Florida over the past several years, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has made improvements on Interstate 4 (I-4) designed to increase capacity and improve traffic flow. One such improvement as part of the I-4 Beyond the Ultimate project has been the addition of auxiliary lanes along I-4 in multiple project areas. Auxiliary lanes are an important part of improving safety on I-4, but how motorists use them determines how effective they are in terms of helping promote safety and efficiency.

An auxiliary lane is an extra lane typically connecting the entrance and exit ramps of two consecutive interchanges. The additional lane allows drivers more room to merge onto or off the interstate, improving safety. If used properly, auxiliary lanes reduce bottlenecks caused by drivers attempting to enter or exit the interstate.

Auxiliary lanes are not meant for through traffic to use as travel lanes. Drivers should avoid using an auxiliary lane for passing. Although there may be times when it appears that traffic is moving faster in an auxiliary lane during busy periods, vehicles that leave the general use lanes to use an auxiliary lane for passing purposes will need to merge back into the general use lanes if they are not exiting the highway. This can lead to slower travel times for motorists in the general use lanes and create more congestion for those entering I-4.

Auxiliary lanes have been constructed as part of several I-4 Beyond the Ultimate projects. These include:

  • A new auxiliary lane on westbound I-4 between State Road (S.R.) 429 and County Road (C.R.) 532 at ChampionsGate.
  • A new auxiliary lane on eastbound I-4 between C.R. 532 and S.R. 429.
  • A new auxiliary lane on northbound S.R. 429 to Sinclair Road.
  • An auxiliary lane was added to eastbound I-4 from the end of I-4 Ultimate to Lake Mary Boulevard as part of the E.E. Williamson bridge replacement project, which was completed in May 2020.

In addition, the I-4 Beyond the Ultimate area includes an auxiliary lane on westbound I-4 between C.R. 46A and Lake Mary Boulevard and an extended auxiliary lane on the westbound I-4 entrance from Lake Mary Boulevard.

FDOT encourages motorists — particularly during periods of heavier traffic such as during morning and afternoon commute hours — to remain in the general use lanes until they are ready to exit the interstate.

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