Heavy Congestion Expected Near Theme Parks and Major Downtown Roadworks for Friday Commute

Friday Morning Commute Overview

Orlando commuters should prepare for a busy morning as the city enters a high-traffic weekend. With the launch of the Osceola County Fair and ongoing festivities at Universal Studios, major arteries like I-4 and US-192 are expected to see significant volume increases today, Friday, February 13, 2026. Additionally, several long-term construction projects are entering critical phases, necessitating specific lane closures that will impact travel times.

Major Roadworks and Closures

Drivers should take note of the following active construction zones and road closures currently in effect:

• SR 408 to I-4 Loop Ramp: The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) continues its safety improvement project on the loop ramp from eastbound S.R. 408 to eastbound I-4. Expect daily shoulder closures from the South Street exit to the S.R. 408 off-ramp between 6:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
• Colonialtown & Wadeview Park: Muriel Street remains closed between South Orange Avenue and Delaney Avenue. In Colonialtown, the intersection of North Fern Creek Avenue and Oregon Street is also closed to all traffic through the end of the month.
• Downtown & Creative Village: Southbound Putnam Avenue is currently closed between Amelia Street and Federal Street. Furthermore, Garden Plaza in Colonialtown North is closed from Weber Street to Illinois Street due to ongoing utility work.
• Highway Alerts: Motorists on I-95 should be aware of overnight ramp closures continuing through today at the interchanges for U.S. 192 and Palm Bay Road. In Orange County, the right lane of North Pine Hills Road at Londonderry Blvd is restricted for construction.

Public Transit and Rail Updates

Public transport users should be mindful of the service changes implemented earlier this year. LYNX has moved to a reduced schedule for certain lines, and SunRail is maintaining its expanded late-night weekday service.

• LYNX Bus Service: Several routes have been adjusted following Seminole County’s shift to on-demand services. Specifically, the LYMMO Orange (Link 60) and Grapefruit (Link 62) lines now end service at 8:00 p.m. daily.
• SunRail: To accommodate evening commuters and those attending events, SunRail continues to operate its two additional late-night trains. Check the updated southbound and northbound schedules for exact departure times from LYNX Central and Church Street stations.

Event-Related Traffic Impacts

Beyond standard construction, local events will likely cause localized gridlock this afternoon and evening:

• Osceola County Fair: Opening today at Osceola Heritage Park, expect heavy delays on US-192 and the Florida Turnpike near Kissimmee.
• Kia Center: The Orlando Solar Bears host the Kansas City Mavericks tonight at 7:00 p.m. Expect increased pedestrian traffic and congestion around Church Street and the Hughey Avenue ramps.
• Theme Park Surges: With Universal’s Mardi Gras in full swing and Disney expecting near-peak attendance levels this week, I-4 exits near Sand Lake Road and World Drive will experience heavy volumes starting in the early afternoon.