ST. CLOUD, Fla. — Traffic congestion is a daily concern for some Osceola County residents while driving on Narcoossee Road and Cyrils Drive. There are multiple projects that Osceola County, Orlando and state transportation officials are working to address the issues.  

Residents say they’re discouraged about the toll that traffic backups are taking on them.

David Huynh lives along Cyrils Drive, where the Sunbridge development is located.  

“The life at Sunbridge is great. It’s a nature community where it’s a family oriented. There’s activities for everybody,” Huynh said. “But then you’ve got traffic. There’s one way in and out. So that’s a big issue.”

Huynh said there is a need for more traffic resources for Sunbridge residents, who face long wait times in the mornings and evenings during rush hour traffic.

“Like I know Sunbridge Parkway is coming, but that’s going to be like 2029,” he said. “Even in the afternoons, if you’re out here from 4 to 7, you’ll be stuck heading from Lake Nona down to St. Cloud.”

Commissioner Tom Keen with the City of Orlando’s District 1 said there are many ongoing projects involving multiple jurisdictions to address these issues.

“It is challenging for the folks that live here, and it’s one of the concerns I get all the time. I think residents should know that we’re working daily to try to relieve some of that pressure,” Keen said.

Keen said the city of Orlando is constantly communicating with Osceola County to address these issues long-term. Commissioner Ricky Booth from Osceola County District 5 confirmed that Osceola County is working with Orlando officials to resolve the congestion.

Keen said creating alternative routes for drivers is one way they’re aiming to resolve the issues, like investing in Boggy Creek Road’s expansion.

“Even though that’s an Osceola County project, the city provides over … or will provide over $6 million worth of economic impact or direct dollars, basically, to Osceola County for their construction,” Keen said.

During Monday’s Osceola County Commission meeting, the final acceptance of Cyrils Drive widening and improvements project from Narcoossee to Absher Road was approved by the commission.

Central Florida Expressway Authority’s State Road 534 is another planned project aimed to address the traffic congestion. It will be a 14-mile toll road that will give Orange and Osceola County drivers another route going east to west. Construction is expected to begin early next year.

CFX Senior Manager of Community Relations Brian Hutchings said in a statement: “In general, it typically takes 15 to 20 years from the time a project is first studied to when it is fully constructed and opened to drivers.”

Another planned Osceola County project to address the traffic is the Sunbridge Parkway extension. It’s supposed to connect drivers traveling north and south from U.S. 192 in Osceola County to State Road 528 in Orange County. Design for this project has not been completed.