A major traffic change along I-4 in downtown Orlando will happen this weekend.

From Ivanhoe Boulevard to State Road 50, the five westbound lanes will be shifted to the right and will stay in place for the next two years.

It’s the first big change in the $2.3-billion I-4 Ultimate Project.

Last weekend crews were supposed to shut down two of the five lanes temporarily and reduce the ramp which feeds off of the Ivanhoe exit to one lane.

But on Saturday the crew told Florida Dept. of Transportation that the work would be postponed until this weekend to ensure the pavement is ready to handle the traffic pattern switch.

All of these changes will happen overnight when the roads are not as busy. But this will change the landscape for Monday morning commuters as more than 60,000 daily drivers get used to the new layout. 

“This is a time to put the phone down,” Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Kim Montes said. “If you haven’t done it before, this is the absolute time. The lanes are going to be a little bit closer together, so drivers have a little less room for error."

And that’s another reason officials are urging drivers to mind the posted speed limit of 50 miles per hour and reminding them that speeding in a work zone could mean a minimum fine of $200.  

This is just the first of many traffic changes. Six weeks from now, the eastbound lanes around Ivanhoe will experience the same traffic shift.

Workers will be rebuilding 21 miles of I-4, from west of Kirkman Road, in Orange County, to east of State Road 434, in Seminole County.

Toll lanes will also be built. Those lanes will have fluctuating rates based on the time of day. Other beautifications in the project include fountains, lights and trees.