universal boulevard runs roughly parallel to international drive from the beachline expressway north, then crosses i-drive and intersects i-4 via an overpass into the universal orlando resort. originally built as republic drive, it originally stopped at international drive and fed into ramps onto and off i-4 eastbound. in 1998, the extension north into universal studios was opened (in preparation for the opening of islands of adventure in 1999), and the road was renamed to universal blvd. the intersection at i-4 still only has ramps onto and off i-4 eastbound; the ramps on westbound i-4 connect not to universal blvd., but to hollywood way, necessitating a right turn to get to universal blvd.