LONGWOOD, Fla. — Central Floridians have an opportunity to speak out on a pair of Florida Department of Transportation projects that aim to improve conditions for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians on State Road 434 in Longwood.

FDOT will host a public meeting from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday regarding improvements to SR-434 from about Rangeline Road to US-17/92. The meeting will be at Grace Church, located at 1765 W. SR-434 in Longwood.

“The sidewalk is a little busted up, so it can be a little rough for the average rider coming through,” cyclist Aryan Harney said.

The bike lane on SR-434 is narrow and in some spots nonexistent, Harney said.

“(I have to be) a lot more careful without a bike lane,” he said.

The project plans call for repaving SR-434 and adding 4-foot-wide bicycle lanes.

The speed limit also will be reduced by 10 miles per hour.

In addition, FDOT plans to create a wider, 8-foot-wide sidewalk and upgrade lighting.

A second project plans to eliminate the center, two-way left turn lane and instead install a raised median with wider U-turn areas.

“It's going to open up that road to more commuters, more just pleasure riders,” Harney said.

Construction on the nearly $11 million in projects is expected to begin in 2025.