The Central Florida Expressway Authority has introduced Flex Lanes on State Road 417 and State Road 429, as part of the capacity improvement projects on those roadways. These lanes are the first of their kind in the Southeast.
These innovative lanes use a wider median shoulder to allow traffic to continue flowing when an incident causes a closure in one or more of the right lanes. If a serious crash slows traffic, the Flex Lane will open to get traffic safely past the crash at a reduced speed.
The lanes are controlled by dynamic overhead messaging signs that show which lanes are open and which lanes are closed. Red X’s mean a lane is closed; a green arrow means a lane is open. When a lane is about to open or close, the overhead sign will show a yellow X.
Flex Lanes became fully operational on SR 417, from International Drive to SR 528, and SR 429, from Tilden Road to SR 414, in early 2026. CFX will evaluate additional opportunities to expand Flex Lanes as part of the future project development process.
Click here to view the fact sheet.
Click here to view the FAQ document.