Tag Archives: I-4

RoadNews

Roaring Springs Splashes Into ZooTampa at Lowry Park

ZooTampa at Lowry Park kicks off the summer with a splash as it introduces its brand-new family water adventure, Roaring Springs presented by Pinch A Penny. Following the debut of a refreshed, contemporary identity featuring a new logo and revitalized vision, ZooTampa launched its most thrilling expansion to date with the opening of Roaring Springs.

Roaring Springs will allow guests of all ages to discover a hidden part of Florida full of unexpected adventure and thrills. Explorers will board a boat and gently drift along a crystal-clear spring surrounded by native landscape and wildlife. The journey takes a sudden turn when the elevation drops. Guests will feel a rush of adrenaline as they experience a 3-story splashdown. The less adventurous can also revel in a rip-roaring splash on Lookout Landing, the bridge overseeing the attraction.

The journey continues as guests get back to nature and see a hidden part of Florida that remains untouched – a Florida that requires no filter. The area will combine old Florida charm with a nod to the original Florida way of life. Explorers will catch a glimpse of black bears, alligators, panthers, Key deer and other native species as they trek along the winding Florida Trail.

Roaring Springs is a welcome and refreshing escape for the entire family from the Florida heat. The attraction is also the Zoo’s largest expansion in ten years.

“Part of our mission is to create exceptional, personalized experiences that connect people with wildlife and each other in fun, immersive ways,” said the Zoo’s CEO, Joe Couceiro. “Roaring Springs will provide thrills for guests while the continued transformation of the Florida Region improves the Zoo’s capacity to rescue threatened native wildlife throughout the state. With these enhancements, the evolution of the Zoo continues and gives our guests reasons to keep coming back.”

The water adventure is set within the town of Roaring Springs featuring a traditional Country Store with Florida souvenirs and local novelties. Joe’s Diner serves classic Florida favorites, including adult beverages and food options – from conch fritters to fish tacos to frozen rum drinks. Adults can indulge in these treats while kids enjoy the town’s new play area.

The Zoo’s family membership continues to provide Tampa’s best values for the whole family for an entire year including previewing Roaring Springs, unlimited admission to the zoo, and all seasonal events for 12 full months from the date of purchase.

Guests who purchase memberships or admissions to the Zoo are helping support the Zoo’s mission to protect and preserve wildlife. For more information on ticket pricing and benefits visit the website at zootampa.org/tickets.

For more I-4 travel information, visit www.i4exitguide.com, the Internet’s largest and most complete website devoted to Interstate 4. Detailed exit service listings… discount lodging, camping, food, gas and more for every exit from Tampa to Daytona!

Traveling another route? Visit our growing family of exit guides: I-95 Exit Guide, I-5 Exit Guide, I-10 Exit Guide and I-75 Exit Guide.

RoadNews

I-4 Ramp to Adventure Way Closing Nightly Thru May 3

Motorists looking to head to the attractions area at night could encounter the nightly closure of the westbound Interstate 4 (I-4) exit ramp to Adventure Way.

The ramp closes from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. thru May 3 to assist with ongoing work at the Kirkman Road (State Road 435) and I-4 interchange.

Modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving through the work zone.

For more I-4 construction information, visit www.i4exitguide.com, the Internet’s largest and most complete website devoted to Interstate 4. Detailed exit service listings… discount lodging, camping, food, gas and more for every exit from Tampa to Daytona!

Traveling another route? Visit our growing family of exit guides: I-95 Exit Guide, I-5 Exit Guide, I-10 Exit Guide and I-75 Exit Guide.

RoadNews

I-4 Exit to Fairbanks Avenue Shifting to 2 Miles Sooner

Beginning the morning of April 12, motorists on eastbound Interstate 4 (I-4) who wish to exit to Fairbanks Avenue will be required to do so nearly 2 miles sooner. The new temporary configuration will combine the exits to Fairbanks Avenue (Exit 87) with Par Street (Exit 86).

The purpose of this temporary configuration is to move the auxiliary lane of existing eastbound

I-4 to the newly constructed portions of the roadway.

In August 2017, traffic entering eastbound I-4 from Princeton Street and exiting eastbound I-4 to Par Street was separated from the mainline of eastbound I-4 onto newly constructed portions of the roadway. The temporary Fairbanks Avenue exit ramp opening on April 12 will add to this temporary road configuration. This configuration is not part of the final design for the I-4 Ultimate project, but is a necessary intermediary step to create space so crews can continue building the new eastbound I-4 while maintaining the same number of lanes.

Modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving through the work zone.

For more I-4 construction information, visit www.i4exitguide.com, the Internet’s largest and most complete website devoted to Interstate 4. Detailed exit service listings… discount lodging, camping, food, gas and more for every exit from Tampa to Daytona!

Traveling another route? Visit our growing family of exit guides: I-95 Exit Guide, I-5 Exit Guide, I-10 Exit Guide and I-75 Exit Guide.

RoadNews

Nighttime Closures on I-4 and Central Parkway in Orlando Scheduled for March 26-28

The Florida Department of Transportation reports that both directions of Interstate 4 under Central Parkway are temporarily closing for one night each on March 26 and 27 for nearby construction activity.

  • Eastbound I-4 closes at 10 p.m. on Monday, March 26, and concludes at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, March 27.
  • Westbound I-4 closes at 10 p.m. on March 27, and concludes at 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 28.
  • Central Parkway over I-4 will close from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. both nights to support the operation.

The detours use Douglas Avenue, Montgomery Road, State Roads (S.R.) 436 and 434.

Modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving through the work zone.

For more I-4 construction information, visit www.i4exitguide.com, the Internet’s largest and most complete website devoted to Interstate 4. Detailed exit service listings… discount lodging, camping, food, gas and more for every exit from Tampa to Daytona!

Traveling another route? Visit our growing family of exit guides: I-95 Exit Guide, I-5 Exit Guide, I-10 Exit Guide and I-75 Exit Guide.

RoadNews

Lane and Ramp Closures, Detours for I-4 Construction in Seminole and Volusia Counties

The Florida Department of Transportation will be installing lighting and new highway signs at several interchanges along I-4 in Seminole and Volusia counties. The lighting will be installed along the main travel lanes and ramps, and will include both standard light poles and the taller high-mast poles. The I-4 locations are at U.S. 17/92, Dirksen Drive, S.R. 472, Orange Camp Road, S.R. 44 and U.S. 92 ramp.
This project also includes lighting on County Road 15 (Monroe Road) at U.S. 17/92.

The following traffic impacts will result:

Lane Closures
Sunday, March 25th, 2018 to Saturday, March 31st, 2018

  • I-4 ramp closure: Tuesday – Wednesday, 10 p.m. – 5 a.m., S.R. 472 westbound on ramp to I-4 eastbound will be closed. Traffic will be directed to take I-4 westbound to Saxon Boulevard toward Deltona to access I-4 eastbound.
  • Thursday – Friday, 8:30 p.m. – 6 a.m., single lane closure on I-4 westbound west of the Dirksen Drive interchange for installation of light pole bases.
  • Sunday, March 25th, 2018 to Saturday, March 31st, 2018
    Sunday – Monday, 8:30 p.m. – 6 a.m., single lane closures possible on S.R. 472 eastbound and westbound near the I-4 interchange for installation of light pole bases

For more I-4 construction information, visit www.i4exitguide.com, the Internet’s largest and most complete website devoted to Interstate 4. Detailed exit service listings… discount lodging, camping, food, gas and more for every exit from Tampa to Daytona!

Traveling another route? Visit our growing family of exit guides: I-95 Exit Guide, I-5 Exit Guide, I-10 Exit Guide and I-75 Exit Guide.

Attractions, RoadNews

Legoland Florida Debuts New Virtual Reality Coaster

Brick fans, start your engines! The newest attraction at LEGOLAND® Florida Resort combines roller coaster thrills with virtual reality (VR) technology to put guests in the center of an action-packed road rally where the laws of physics and aerodynamics only loosely apply.

Now open at the multi-day vacation destination, The Great LEGO® Race invites guests into a virtual world where they’re the star of a rollicking race against several LEGO minifigure competitors – all while taking an exciting roller coaster ride.

Wearing optional VR headsets while riding the roller coaster, guests experience the point of view of a LEGO race car driver with action taking place in every direction — up, down, forward, backward and all points in between — in a dazzling environment where everything is made of LEGO bricks.

The wild and wacky race pits guests against a LEGO pirate, wizard, surfer, trendsetter and pharaoh driving brick-built vehicles like a rocket-powered windsurfing rig, a stylish scooter fueled by espresso and an ornately canopied bed (called a “litter”) carried by mummy servants.

The adventure begins as guests step through the ride’s bold new entry portal, which features giant versions of several minifigure racers and their custom LEGO vehicles. The nearby queue is filled with colorful graphics representing each of the five racing teams, with themed elements to entertain waiting riders and video screens demonstrating the virtual reality experience.

Once guests are dispatched aboard the ride vehicles, sophisticated technology syncs the virtual visuals with the roller coaster’s twists, turns, drops and climbs, creating an all-new experience filled with action, surprises and humor — an experience only LEGOLAND could create.

Developed under the supervision of Merlin Magic Making, the company’s global creative and delivery division, The Great LEGO Race is the first virtual reality roller coaster experience designed for kids and represents the first time the LEGO brand and minifigure characters have been integrated with the state-of-the-art technology in a theme park attraction.

“The Great LEGO Race was inspired by the way kids play with LEGO toys at home,” said Candy Holland, senior creative director for Merlin Magic Making. “It’s a unique LEGO adventure that lets kids enter an epic, imaginary world made entirely from LEGO bricks, featuring a host of different themes and fun LEGO characters all mixed up together.”

For more I-4 travel information, visit www.i4exitguide.com, the Internet’s largest and most complete website devoted to Interstate 4. Detailed exit service listings… discount lodging, camping, food, gas and more for every exit from Tampa to Daytona!

Traveling another route? Visit our growing family of exit guides: I-95 Exit Guide, I-5 Exit Guide, I-10 Exit Guide and I-75 Exit Guide.

RoadNews

Traffic Shift for I-4 Westbound Construction in Orlando

The Florida Department of Transpoertation reports that motorists traveling on westbound Interstate 4 between Maitland Boulevard (SR 414) and Lee Road (SR 423) and will notice a new traffic shift.

All traffic on westbound I-4 between Maitland Boulevard and Lee Road is now shifted to the old eastbound I-4 lanes to prepare for roadway demolition and construction of the permanent westbound I-4 lanes. In December 2017, all eastbound I-4 lanes between Lee Road and Maitland Boulevard were shifted to new, permanent lanes. The westbound I-4 exit ramp to Lee Road also will shift about one-tenth of a mile sooner. The exit lane leading to the ramp will be maintained.

Orlando I-4 Construction | I-4 Exit Guide

Modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving through the work zone.

For more I-4 construction information, visit www.i4exitguide.com, the Internet’s largest and most complete website devoted to Interstate 4. Detailed exit service listings… discount lodging, camping, food, gas and more for every exit from Tampa to Daytona!

Traveling another route? Visit our growing family of exit guides: I-95 Exit Guide, I-5 Exit Guide, I-10 Exit Guide and I-75 Exit Guide.

RoadNews

I-4 Construction in Orlando Closing Local Roads This Weekend

The Florida Department of Transportation reports that portions of Douglas Avenue and Wymore Road are closing near State Road (S.R.) 436 for one weekend beginning the night of March 16.

The two road closures will begin at 10:00 p.m. on Friday, March 16, and will continue until 6:00 a.m. on Monday, March 19.

Orlando I-4 Construction | I-4 Exit Guide

Modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving through the work zone.

For more I-4 construction information, visit www.i4exitguide.com, the Internet’s largest and most complete website devoted to Interstate 4. Detailed exit service listings… discount lodging, camping, food, gas and more for every exit from Tampa to Daytona!

Traveling another route? Visit our growing family of exit guides: I-95 Exit Guide, I-5 Exit Guide, I-10 Exit Guide and I-75 Exit Guide.

Attractions, Featured

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Honors Two Decades of Wild Encounters With 20th Anniversary Celebration

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will mark its 20th anniversary on Earth Day, April 22, with more wild adventures than ever before – kicking off spring and setting the stage for an incredible summer filled with all-new events and experiences at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Commemorating the milestone year, the 500-acre adventure park will offer animal encounters, family-friendly activities, specialty desserts and more during an expanded Party for the Planet celebration April 22-May 5.

Over the two-week “Party for the Planet celebration, guests can attend conservation talks by animal-care experts and participate in enhanced interactions with some of the more than 2,000 animals that make their home at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited park.

Rafiki’s Planet Watch will take center stage for the year-long 20th anniversary. It’s home to fun educational exhibits and activities that help create awareness of animal issues. During the 20th anniversary, Rafiki’s Planet Watch will offer backstage experiences with experts where guests can learn about animal nutrition, visit the veterinary hospital and hear how Disney promotes global wildlife conservation.

Find Your Perfect Room Near Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

Guests can also commemorate their visits to the theme park with special photo opportunities. They can step into an oversized picture frame celebrating the park’s 20th anniversary. Other photo frames support Disney’s “Reverse the Decline,” an initiative created to help protect 10 threatened animal species. One recent success of the program was the birth of two critically endangered Sumatran Tiger Cubs at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Just for kids is the chance to earn a limited-edition badge as part of the Wilderness Explorer program. The badge is one of many that youngsters can earn by completing fun activities throughout the park.

Party for the Planet will also include six different Tiffins Talks – themed dinners hosted by animal experts at Tiffins, the theme park’s signature, full-service restaurant. Watch the Disney Parks Blog for more information.

The 20th anniversary fun also includes a commemorative adventure guide, limited-edition merchandise, and a special-edition print created by renowned Walt Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde. He will be available on April 22 from 1-4 p.m. to sign prints at Discovery Trading Company. Quantities are limited. For more information on Party for the Planet, visit Disneyworld.com/PartyforthePlanet.

Here are other experiences and adventures rolling out in 2018 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom:

  • April 22 will mark the debut of a brand-new show, UP! A Great Bird Adventure featuring Russell and Dug from the Disney•Pixar animated comedy-adventure film “UP.” The show will give guests the chance to see Senior Wilderness Explorer Russell and his fuzzy friend Dug in a new adventure that includes encounters with exotic birds from around the world. This free-flying show will be performed multiple times daily.
  • A “dino-tastic” celebration with Donald and his friends will also premiere Memorial Day weekend in DinoLand, U.S.A. This dinosaur-themed party celebrates Donald Duck’s discovery that his bird ancestors were actually dinosaurs. DinoLand U.S.A. will feature colorful new décor and playful character greetings with rarely seen pals like Scrooge McDuck, Launchpad McQuack and more. A DJ-powered dance party will mix tunes from the truck-o-saurus stage, capping the nighttime festivities.
  • Memorial Day 2018 commemorates the one-year anniversary of Pandora – The World of Avatar. Here, travelers are transported to a mystical world of floating mountains, bioluminescent rainforests and breathtaking new experiences. Inspired by the blockbuster film, AVATAR, the epic land invites guests to explore a glowing landscape, encounter a larger-than-life Na’vi Shaman of Songs and soar on the back of a banshee.

For more information about the 20th anniversary of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, visit DisneyWorld.com/AnimalKingdom.

For more I-4 travel information, visit www.i4exitguide.com, the Internet’s largest and most complete website devoted to Interstate 4. Detailed exit service listings… discount lodging, camping, food, gas and more for every exit from Tampa to Daytona!

Traveling another route? Visit our growing family of exit guides: I-95 Exit Guide, I-5 Exit Guide, I-10 Exit Guide and I-75 Exit Guide.

RoadNews

I-4 On-Ramp from Universal Boulevard in Orlando Closed for Five Months

The eastbound Interstate 4 (I-4) on-ramp from Universal Boulevard is now closed for five months. The detour for this on-going closure is to use the eastbound I-4 on-ramp from Kirkman Road (State Road 435).

I-4 Construction | I-4 Exit Guide

The closure of the eastbound I-4 on-ramp from Universal Boulevard allows construction crews to continue building the new I-4 and Kirkman Road interchange. A lot of work already has been completed on the west side of the interchange, including new westbound I-4 exit ramps to southbound and northbound Kirkman Road. Crews are focusing on improvements planned for the east side of the interchange. Closing the Universal Boulevard on-ramp will help crew members work safely and allow the work to move ahead efficiently.

Modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving through the work zone.

For more I-4 construction information, visit www.i4exitguide.com, the Internet’s largest and most complete website devoted to Interstate 4. Detailed exit service listings… discount lodging, camping, food, gas and more for every exit from Tampa to Daytona!

Traveling another route? Visit our growing family of exit guides: I-95 Exit Guide, I-5 Exit Guide, I-10 Exit Guide and I-75 Exit Guide.