AASHTO Journal, 2 August 2013
Florida Department of Transportation officials were joined by Gov. Rick Scott and local officials last month to officially begin a large beltway project that will improve travel to various tourist destinations in Central Florida, strengthening the area’s economy.
The $1.5 billion Wekiva Parkway project, a joint effort between FDOT and the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority, consists of a 25-mile toll road to run through Lake, Orange, and Seminole counties. The project aims to reduce congestion and delays on U.S. Highway 441 and State Road 46 in the area. FDOT says the project will also help the economy through the creation of 35,000 jobs.
FDOT officials say the project will improve travel through the region by growing the beltway, which already runs 87 miles of SR 429, SR 414, and SR 417.
“The Wekiva Parkway will be a true game-changer for the entire Central Florida region,” said FDOT Secretary Ananth Prasad in a statement. “By working together, we are able to make the long-sought vision of completing the beltway around metropolitan Orlando a reality.”
The project was also designed to protect the Wekiva River Basin, and parkway development has included the conservation of more than 3,400 acres of land.
“The Wekiva Parkway will create jobs for Florida families while also protecting our natural resources for future generations,” Scott said. “Transportation projects like the Wekiva increase mobility and enhance the quality of life for the residents of this region.”
The parkway will be constructed in sections and is scheduled to be completed in 2021. The project is the first expressway built in the area to use all-electronic tolling in an effort to keep traffic moving at a steady pace.
Additional information on the Wekiva Parkway project is available at WekivaParkway.com.