Editor's note: This story was updated to indicate that the Lake-Orange Expressway is a Central Florida Expressway Authority project.

CLERMONT, Fla. — As there continues to be more and more construction in the area of south Lake County, some residents say they are getting frustrated with their daily commutes to Orange County.

They say drive times seem to be getting longer and longer.

What You Need To Know

  •  Data show that the areas of south Lake and west Orange County are growing

  •  Many south Lake County residents say they want local and state governments to address infrastructure needs in the area

  • The Central Florida Expressway Authority is in the design phase of the Lake-Orange Expressway, which will connect U.S. 27 to State Road 429

Talking to people in south Lake County, two main buzzwords are going around: development and infrastructure. And many residents argue that infrastructure in the area has not kept up with the growth.

That’s one of the reasons why officials with the Central Florida Expressway Authority say they are moving forward with the Lake-Orange Expressway, to cut commuters' time on the road and have a better connection between Lake and Orange counties.

“We’ve had our own little baby boom in Florida,"said Ashley Condon. "But people my age that are natives are hard to find.” 

When he’s not on his boat, Condon is at his Clermont home working on his truck. He’s lived in Florida his entire life, and in the Clermont area for 14 years. In that time, Condon says there have been changes.

“A lot of the changes have been good — we’ve seen some economic growth in the area,” he said.

But with the growth comes traffic, and that is something Condon says he is seeing more of these days.

“We already know that it needs attention, which means we’re already behind,” said Condon.

Many Clermont residents like Condon say they have had to get used to a longer commute to Orange County.

“Anybody who is a regular commuter can tell you that whole area is a nightmare anytime during rush hour," Condon said. "I seriously plan appointments and things around it because I don’t want to deal with it."

That’s why some south Lake County residents say they are hoping state and local government will addresses infrastructure in the area. Central Florida Expressway Authority is currently designing the Lake-Orange Expressway, which will connect U.S. 27 to State Road 429.

It is a project that Condon said is long overdue.

“Hindsight is 20/20 right? If you could have expected this a while ago it would have been easier to come about," he said. "Then, of course, as a resident, it gets frustrating at times."

Officials say as south Lake and west Orange counties continue to grow, the proposed toll road will alleviate congestion and help support Wellness Way, which is coming to the south Lake County Area in 2025.

As for Condon, he says any infrastructure solutions are welcomed, and he hopes to cut his commute to Orange County and the Florida coast in the future.

“Anything in the east-west path is welcomed," he said. "The two major hearts in Clermont are Orlando and Tampa. No matter which direction you head you’re in traffic."

Officials say the Lake-Orange Expressway project will be broken up into three segments. The agency is still in a design phase, which started in 2020.