Construction Progress on I‑4 Wildlife Overpass

Aerial view of the wildlife overpass under construction along Interstate 4 in Polk County, Florida, showing cranes, construction equipment, and embankments being built across the highway, with traffic moving below and wetlands and open green space surrounding the site.

Construction on a wildlife overpass continues to advance along Interstate 4 (I-4) in Polk County, Florida, marking a major step in reconnecting critical habitat on both sides of the highway. The project, led by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), is part of a long‑term strategy to improve driver safety and keep wildlife moving safely between natural areas along one of the state’s busiest corridors.

Crews are actively shaping the overpass embankments on both sides of I‑4, located about 1.6 miles east of the State Road 33 interchange. Recent work includes earthmoving, slope stabilization, drainage improvements, and preparation of the bridge structure that will eventually carry wildlife safely over the interstate. The completed crossing will be 44 feet wide and topped with soil, vegetation and noise‑reducing walls to create a natural, quiet environment for animals.

The overpass is one of several improvements included in FDOT’s I‑4/SR 33 Interchange Improvements an d Wildlife Crossings program. The expanded effort includes roadway reconstruction, interchange upgrades and a system of wildlife‑safety features designed to reduce collisions and guide animals toward safe crossing points.

Immediately north of the I‑4 crossing, FDOT is also building a wildlife underpass as part of the State Road 33 improvements for the Exit 38 project. The underpass replaces an older culvert with a new bridge designed to carry both water and wildlife beneath the roadway. Fencing directs animals toward the crossing and away from traffic.

Wildlife underpass built as part of the State Road 33 improvements for the Exit 38 project, showing vehicles traveling on the overpass above a drainage channel and grassy embankments, with forested areas in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Once complete, the crossing will help to maintain north and south wildlife movement in Polk County, reconnecting the Teno roc Fish Management Area, a preserve managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), to the south with the expansive Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve to the north, managed by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD).

Expected species to use the crossing include Florida black bears, bobcats, white‑tailed deer, otters, raccoons and smaller mammals. Wildlife fencing will be installed along I‑4 to guide animals toward the overpass and away from traffic, a strategy FDOT has used successfully at other crossings in the state.