By Jim Carchidi
All roads lead to, and from, Central Florida's tourism destinations. A series of upgrades are on the way as projects in progress will streamline travel for drivers while rail service expansions and a first-ever offering at Orlando International Airport are creating buzz in the travel market.
Planes
Photo courtesy of Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
Starting in February, Zipair Tokyo Inc. will offer round-trip flights between Narita International Airport and Orlando International Airport. Four flights are currently scheduled – February 23 and 28, March 5 and 10 – with ticket sales beginning in December. The service will be the first nonstop charter connection between Orlando and Tokyo.
Flights originating in Narita will depart in the afternoon and arrive in Orlando in the afternoon of the same day. Flights from Orlando will depart in the afternoon and arrive in Narita in the evening.
ZIPAIR, a low-cost subsidiary of Japan Airlines, offers flights to North America and Asia with a standard economy class and a premium business class. Amenities like meals and checked baggage are available for additional charges.
Trains
Photo courtesy of Brightline
Brightline is increasing the capacity of its high-speed rail service between Orlando and Miami. Two cars were recently added to its average six-car train length, boosting the total number of seats to about 503. The addition comes as Brightline noted its September 2025 ridership of 227,851 marked an 11% increase over the previous year. The rail line plans to reach a capacity of 600 seats by 2026 with the addition of two more cars in the coming month.
Not to be outdone, Sunrail will add weekday service after 10 p.m. Starting December 1, the last northbound train will depart Poinciana at 9:55 p.m. and arrive in DeLand at 11:36 p.m. The final southbound train will leave DeLand at 9:55 p.m. and arrive in Poinciana at 11:38 p.m.
Automobiles
Photo courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation
The $2.5 billion Moving I4 Forward project by FDOT is adding lanes, upgrading interchanges, and constructing bridges across a 14-mile stretch from U.S. 27 to S.R. 536. An "Accelerated Start" program was completed in April, adding one westbound and one eastbound lane from east of U.S. 27 to World Drive. Contractors are currently prepping for the addition of express lanes, similar to those in the completed I4 Ultimate stretch through downtown Orlando.
The rest of the project is separated into five construction phases:
- Project 1, east of World Drive to east of U.S. 192: Adds three general-use lanes and two new express lanes in each direction with new infrastructure and connectors to S.R. 417 and I4 Express lanes.
- Project 2, east of C.R. 532 to west of World Drive: Adds four general-use lanes and two express lanes in each direction. New ramps also are planned to connect the I-4 express lanes to State Road 429, and from the I-4 general-use lanes to the State Road 429 toll. Old Lake Wilson Road will be widened to four lanes from Sinclair Road to Assembly Court.
- Project 3, west of U.S. 27 to west of Champions Gate: Adds two express lanes in each direction on I-4. New ramps also will be added between the I-4 express lanes and U.S. 27.
- Project 4, west of Osceola Parkway to east of World Center Drive (S.R. 536): Adds two express lanes in each direction of I-4 from west of Osceola Parkway to east of World Center Drive. The I-4 bridges at the Osceola Parkway interchange will also be upgraded.
- Project 5, Poinciana Connector from C.R. 532 to S.R 429: The 2.6-mile road will have three lanes in each direction with the ability to add a fourth. New overpasses and ramps to Osceola Polk Line Road will also be built.
FDOT Program Director of Controls, Morgan County, told The Orlando Real that projects 1, 2, and 5 are in the final stages of design with construction beginning in the first quarter of 2026. Projects 3 and 4 will begin procurement and design in early 2026 with construction beginning in early 2027.
FDOT is also making progress on its I4 Beyond the Ultimate project with completion expected next year on a partial reconstruction of the I-4/Apopka-Vineland Road Interchange and a widening of the westbound I-4 exit ramp to eastbound S.R. 528. Improvements at the I-4/Sand Lake Road interchange are expected to complete in 2027.
The Orlando Real is sponsored by the Pozek Group. If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in Orlando, reach out and we would love to help!
Posted by The Orlando Real on
Leave A Comment