ROYAL PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — After years of legal battles, delays, and environmental concerns, the State Road 7 extension is once again gaining momentum — and residents in western Palm Beach County say the progress is long overdue.

Dozens packed into the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center Thursday night to hear updated timelines and design changes for the project, which would finally create a direct north–south connection between Okeechobee Boulevard and Northlake Boulevard.

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Residents say the need is urgent

For people living in The Acreage and surrounding western communities, the road isn’t just about convenience — it’s about access and safety.

Acreage resident Jody Hayes says traffic is already difficult on a normal day, but her biggest concern is hurricane season.

“Day to day traffic getting in and out of The Acreage where I live — it can be a very dicey thing,” Hayes said. “But my biggest concern has been hurricane season for the evacuation.”

Others, like Jane Wolff, say dependence on Northlake Boulevard has become unbearable.

“Traffic is getting worse and worse. It’s hard to even get out of your neighborhood,” Wolff said. “If there’s an accident, you just sit there. You could sit for an hour and a half on Northlake Boulevard.”

Wolff says years of litigation and environmental disputes have only made the situation more costly and more frustrating.

“It’s getting more expensive all the time for taxpayers. They just need to do it,” Wolff continued.

Longtime Royal Palm Beach resident Diane Queller says delays have had life or death consequences.

“When your response time is going up, that means you’re endangering people, endangering lives there’s been a couple incidences where they couldn’t get to people in time and they died.”

Updated designs aim to ease environmental concerns

FDOT project manager Scott Peterson presented new design refinements, including:

Reducing the project’s footprint near Grassy Waters Preserve

Removing plans that would have sent drainage into the Ibis Lake area

Widening sections from two lanes to four lanes on both the north and south ends

“We want to do projects in a way that satisfies the public If people have concerns, I want to hear about them too.”

These updates align with FDOT’s plan to improve traffic flow while minimizing environmental impacts — a key factor in previous legal challenges.

Construction still years away

FDOT tells CBS12 News the agency hopes to begin construction in spring 2028, with work taking place in phases to limit disruptions to nearby neighborhoods.

Residents say they’re ready and hoping this time, the project finally sticks.