SANFORD, Fla. — After receiving pushback from the community over a plan to build a connector expressway between State Road 417 and the Orlando Sanford International Airport, transportation leaders are now considering another route.
The Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) is looking at the possibility of building an elevated toll road down the middle of Lake Mary Boulevard to connect SR-417 to the entrance of the airport off Red Cleveland Boulevard.
“We would be looking at the center median,” said Brian Hutchings, manager of community engagement at the Central Florida Expressway Authority.
The decision comes after residents near the airport, including those in Kensington Reserve, voiced concern over the plan.
The expressway authority had been considering routes to connect State Road 417 to the airport, going through conservation lands next to homes.
“Some of the routes would go right through that wetlands area potentially,” said Bob Harmon, a resident of Kensington Reserve.
Harmon is concerned the runoff from a new expressway would cause flooding concerns for his neighbors.
“Concerns, in addition to problems with the water control, are (the) decrease in property values, and a concern about noise pollution, as well as other pollution from the roadway,” said Harmon.
The expressway authority and Seminole County leaders argue the route is necessary to manage expected growth at the airport and current congestion on Lake Mary Boulevard.
A new proposed route down the middle of Lake Mary Boulevard doesn’t give the expressway authority much wiggle room.
“I think (the Lake Mary Boulevard route) would be better than some of the other ideas that have been proposed, that would infringe on people’s houses and complicate management of the water flow through wetland areas,” said Harmon.
The routes through the conservation land, along with the new proposed route along Lake Mary Boulevard, will be part of a project development and environmental study getting underway this spring.