The Central Florida Expressway Authority is looking to ease congestion on several roadways.
The expressway authority meets on Thursday to consider studying a new toll road to connect Orange County to Lake County with the goal of easing congestion on local roadways.
The expressway authority wants to build a five-mile route to connect U.S. 27 to State Road 429.
Three routes are being considered, but the most favorable would connect U.S. 27 to State Road 429 at the Schofield Road Interchange.
An estimated 7,800 cars would use the new roadway by the year 2025.
On Thursday, the expressway authority will consider authorizing a consultant to study the feasibility of such a route.
Also at its Thursday meeting, the expressway authority will review a congestion relief proposal.
It is a part of a $1.6 billion work plan designed to improve congestion on existing toll roads: State roads 408, 417 and 528.
The plan proposes widening the toll roads at some of their most congested locations during peak travel times.
Congestion Relief Plan:
- Widening SR 408 between Good Homes Road and Hiawassee
- SR 417/SR 408 south interchange & widening
- Widening SR 408 between SR 417 and Alafaya Trail
- Widening SR 417 from SR 408 to the Orange/Seminole County Line
- Widening SR 528 approaching SR 436 including improvements to the SR 528/SR 436 interchange
- Funding contribution to help build the new SR 408/I-4 Interchange as part of FDOT’s I-4 Ultimate Project
If the expressway authority goes ahead with the plan, it estimates the average Central Florida driver would save 32 travel hours a year by the time these projects are completed in 2022.
The expressway authority meets at 9 a.m., Thursday, at its Administration and Operations Building at 4974 ORL Tower Road in Orlando.