Latest news with #PoincianaConnector
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida lawmakers fund another $1.7 billion in I-4 construction projects
Florida is taking additional steps to speed up congestion relief along the I-4 tourist corridor. Last week lawmakers voted to expedite the construction of two express lanes on I-4's busiest stretch in Osceola and Polk Counties and a separate road project that will better connect I-4 to the rest of Osceola County's transportation network. The joint legislative budget commission approved $1.7 billion for the three road projects. 'This week's LBC vote allows funds to move into the current Fiscal Year to ensure FDOT is able to move as swiftly as possible with their delivery,' said Molly Best, a spokesperson for the Governor's office, in an email. The road projects include two express lanes in each direction on a 2.6-mile stretch from east of World Drive to east of U.S. 192 and a 3.1-mile stretch from east of County Road 532 to west of World Drive. The third project is construction of a new 3.5-mile road called the Poinciana Connector. That road will link State Road 429 to the southern portion of Osceola Polk Line Road and connect to I-4. The Central Florida Expressway Authority is planning another road project to connect to the Poinciana Connector, eventually creating a southern highway loop that will ease access throughout Osceola County to I-4. That will involve extending Poinciana Parkway and connecting it to County Road 532. Construction on improvements to surrounding county roads to facilitate this project are scheduled to begin in early 2026, said CFX spokesperson Brian Hutchings in an email. 'This effort aims to increase capacity and enhance connectivity between the future extension of Poinciana Parkway and I-4,' Hutchings said. 'Through close coordination with regional partners, we are delivering a comprehensive transportation solution designed to improve mobility, enhance regional connectivity, and provide lasting traffic relief for our growing community.' Poinciana, an unincorporated part of Osceola County that borders Polk County, has ballooned in population in recent years, and so has traffic. 'We appreciate the continued support of the Florida Legislature and Governor Ron DeSantis in delivering landmark investments through the Florida Department of Transportation's Moving Florida Forward initiative, bringing real congestion relief to some of Osceola County's most vital transportation corridors,' Osceola County spokesperson Tyler Winik said in an email. The Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative aims to bring congestion relief across the state through a series of projects. Roughly $2.5 billion of the initiative will overhaul I-4 and it's moving quickly. Various improvements along a 14-mile stretch of I-4, including these three projects, were already slated to be completed in ten years —faster than the original estimate of 25 years — and with this $1.7 billion boost key portions should be delivered in less time. The funding comes on the heels of April's announcement that two new lanes on a six-mile stretch of I-4 were added eight months ahead of schedule. FDOT did not respond to request for comment on the latest development.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This Central Florida community has the worst community in the country, a study finds
If you live in Poinciana, you know – driving around the area is rough, especially along Poinciana boulevard. The bumper-to-bumper traffic pretty much at any point of the day adds up time and stress for drivers. 'I've gotten stuck in traffic for about three hours once,' said Emmy Torres, who was a long-time resident of Poinciana until she moved to Championsgate in late 2024. 'Traffic was a major problem for me.' Torres now doesn't have to deal with the congestion every day, but because her family still lives there, she has to drive to Poinciana – and it takes her about 40 minutes to go from her home to her father's home, just a few miles away. 'This is because we took the connector; if we hadn't, we would be there for about 1 h 15 min,' Torres said as she arrived at her father's house. Traffic along Poinciana Boulevard and its intersections, such as Pleasant Hill Road, at any time of the day is tricky - some drivers say they get stuck here for hours every week. A new study conducted by Finance Buzz found out Poinciana residents have the worst commute in the country, taking on average 51 minutes each way to do things like go to work or school – a total of more than 8h every single week. There is a silver lining - the widening of Poinciana Boulevard is already underway and should be finished by the end of next year, according to Osceola County. Back in April, the Florida Department of Transportation also announced they should start working on their project, called Poinciana Connector - later this year. FDot plans to add one congestion relief lane in each direction toward I-4. The project is expected to be complete by the second half of 2026. Worst commutes in the country, by Finance Buzz: Poinciana, Florida – Residents spend an average of 51 minutes commuting, the longest in the nation. This is likely due to workers traveling to Orlando, located about an hour away. Brentwood, California – Commuters here average 46.4 minutes one-way, making it the longest in California. East Orange, New Jersey – With an average one-way commute of 41.7 minutes, it's the longest in New Jersey. Temescal Valley, California – Residents spend an average of 47.7 minutes commuting, with 55.2% of commuters traveling 45 minutes or more each way. Antioch, California – Commuters in Antioch average 46.4 minutes one-way, with 49.7% of them spending 45 minutes or more commuting each wayBoulevard Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
DeSantis: New lanes on Interstate 4 in Polk County will open week of April 28
Construction of 'congestion relief lanes' on Interstate 4 in Polk County has finished ahead of schedule, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday. The project, adding one lane in each direction of I-4 from U.S. 27 in Polk County to World Drive in Osceola County, will be open for use beginning the week of April 28, DeSantis' office said in a news release. DeSantis announced the Moving Florida Forward initiative last year at a news conference in Polk County. The program includes nearly 700 projects across Florida, with $75 billion in infrastructure investment committed since 2019, the release said. DeSantis set a goal of completing the new lanes on I-4 in Polk County by the end of this year. FDOT launched the Moving I-4 Forward program and introduced a new modified phased design-build method, the release said. To supplement the existing three lanes in each direction, construction crews paved the inner breakdown lanes, converting them to traffic lanes. Polk Parkway East: Polk County transportation board on toll road: Move quickly, protect Bok Tower Gardens FDOT is also expediting full-build work at the County Road 532 and World Drive interchanges and preparing to launch more projects along the 14-mile corridor from U.S. 27 in Polk County to State Road 536 in Orange County, the release said. Improvements include two new express lanes and one general use lane in each direction, interchange upgrades, bridge work, resurfacing and added safety features. The agency is planning three major projects, including the new Poinciana Connector, which will begin construction and finalizing engineering this summer, two years sooner than anticipated, the release said. The new roadway connection will link I-4 to S.R. 429 and the future Central Florida Expressway facility, serving one of Osceola and Polk Counties' fastest-growing areas. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: New lanes on I-4 in Polk County will open week of April 28
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Traffic relief for I-4 drivers near Champions Gate and Celebration is on the way.
Driving along I-4 is anything but fun, and the bumper-to-bumper traffic can truly increase both time and frustration for drivers throughout Central Florida. Now, the governor is making efforts to help. 'We want people to be able to get back to their families and not be sitting in traffic,' said Governor DeSantis during a press conference in Osceola County on Monday. 'But also this is also about commerce and being able to move goods efficiently.' DeSantis touted his administration's speedy conclusion of an extension project to help traffic between Osceola, Polk, and Orange County. 'You look at some of those areas, World Drive, all the way to Polk County, Championsgate, Celebration area. This needs it; this is a really big deal,' DeSantis said. The two additional lanes were added in each direction, extending from the border of Polk County, passing through Championsgate and Celebration in Osceola County, and ending near Orange County. The state projects that as many as 140,000 vehicles will be using the extended lanes every day. 'This will really be a sigh of relief for a lot of people, it doesn't solve everything, but this is something that will be really meaningful,' said the Governor. According to the Governor's office, the new lanes will be open starting on April 28th, eight months before the initially scheduled deadline. This is just one of the five-phase 'Moving I4 Forward' project: Project 1 - East of World Drive to East of U.S. 192 Project 2 - East of C.R. 532 to west of World Drive Project 3 - West of U.S. 27 to west of ChampionsGate Blvd. (C.R. 532) Project 4 - West of Osceola Parkway to east of World Center Drive (S.R. 536) Project 5 - Poinciana Connector from C.R. 532 to S.R. 429 Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
