ORLANDO, Fla. – News 6 traffic safety expert Trooper Steve Montiero answers viewer questions about the rules of the road every week, helping Orlando-area residents become better drivers by being better educated.
Connie L. asked, “There are no known entrance ramps from EB I-4 to the Express Lanes from South St to SR-436 ... why is that?”
If you’ve driven through Orlando’s highways, particularly on the express lanes, you might have wondered: Why aren’t there exits at every major highway north of the city?
While this may seem inconvenient to some drivers, there’s a logical explanation tied to the design and purpose of express lanes.
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The purpose of express lanes
Express lanes are designed to improve traffic flow by offering a faster, less-congested alternative for a specific subset of drivers. However, these lanes aren’t meant to accommodate everyone. They are most effective when used by drivers who need to travel longer distances with minimal interruptions.
Adding an exit at every major highway would defeat the purpose of the express lanes. Frequent exits would cause slower traffic, increased merging, and potentially clog the lanes — issues that express lanes are specifically designed to avoid.
Strategic placement of exits
By limiting the number of access points, express lanes can maintain a steady flow of traffic. Spreading out these exits ensures that some vehicles remain off the main travel lanes, helping reduce congestion for all drivers. The selective placement of exits allows the express lanes to serve their intended purpose: to move traffic efficiently over long distances.
Not designed for everyone
Although it may be frustrating for drivers whose destinations don’t align with the express lane exits, these lanes were never intended to serve all drivers equally. Whether express lanes are useful depends on where you’re headed and how far you’re traveling. For many, they provide a valuable time-saving option. For others, the regular lanes may remain the better choice.
While it might seem inconvenient that there aren’t express exits at every main highway north of Orlando, this design choice is crucial for keeping traffic moving smoothly. It’s all about balance — helping some drivers reach their destinations faster while alleviating overall congestion across the entire highway system.
If you have a traffic question for Trooper Steve, submit it here.
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