FLORIDA (WTXL) - Florida officials say that emergency lanes have been opened on I-4.
The Florida Department of Transportation says that they are working with the Florida Highway Patrol to open up emergency shoulder lanes for Hurricane Irma evacuations.
They say emergency lanes will be open on I-4 from 50th Street in Tampa to east of S.R. 429/Western Beltway in Orlando.
The plan is being put in place to assist the large number of motorists evacuating from Florida’s west coast.
FDOT says motorists may only use the left shoulder when directed by law enforcement and highway signs:
- There is no contraflow or one-way operation in use on Florida state roadways
- No other state roadways are currently approved for shoulder use
- Although there are heavy pockets of evacuation traffic in some areas; traffic is flowing on this section of roadway
- Law enforcement urges motorists to use caution when driving on the shoulder – right shoulder use is prohibited
- FDOT has 13 Traffic Management Centers where hundreds of DOT workers are monitoring traffic cameras 24/7 to ensure traffic flows continue and evacuations proceed without interruption.
