Central Florida is a busy place. With all the tourism and business done in the middle of the Sunshine State, not to mention the area’s booming population, traffic can get heavy even in the best of times. During special sporting events, concerts and festivals, the volume of motorists can become too much for even major transportation arteries like Interstate 4.

To keep traffic running smoothly during these times, it takes careful coordination between FDOT, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and local law enforcement.

“To avoid gridlock for people driving to or leaving a big event, follow the posted traffic patterns into or out of the area,” said Jennifer Heller, ITS Operations Manager for FDOT District Five. “This will provide better traffic flow and save drivers time.”

To manage traffic during major events, FDOT traffic operators and engineers coordinate with local law enforcement and use state-ofthe-art technology like overhead dynamic message signs, traffic cameras and Florida’s 511 Travel Information System. By calling 511 or logging onto FL511.com, users can obtain traffic information before hitting the roadway and avoid congestion.

These vital traffic management elements help keep drivers safe and informed on I-4 and throughout the state. For more information on I-4 traffic management, visit www.trans4mation.org.