OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Drivers who rely on Florida’s Turnpike in Osceola County could soon see major changes.
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise is moving forward with plans to widen a roughly five-mile stretch of the Turnpike Mainline, expanding the roadway from four lanes to eight between Partin Settlement Road and Osceola Parkway.
The project includes rebuilding several bridges, redesigning entrance and exit ramps, shifting parts of the roadway to the east, and installing new median barrier walls, lighting and guardrails. Transportation officials say the improvements are intended to reduce chronic congestion and improve safety along one of Central Florida’s busiest travel corridors.
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For many drivers, the bottlenecks along this area have become part of their daily routine. Frank Constantino, who frequently uses the Turnpike, said slowdowns often occur regardless of the time of day.
“Well, we actually bottleneck over here. Really bad (…) it really bottlenecks bad right there. People are slowing down, you know, to 50, 45, sometimes a dead stop,” Constantino said.
He said the additional lanes will be a welcome relief.
“So I can’t wait for it (…) because that stretch, it will really free up a lot of the traffic and we can, you know, actually do the speed limit,” he said.
Construction is expected to begin in 2025 and last several years. Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise said the phased project will be designed to keep traffic flowing, though periodic lane closures and detours will be necessary.
Uber driver Pedro Reyes said the widening would benefit both daily commuters and tourists navigating the area.
Reyes said even a few added lanes could make rush-hour traffic “far more manageable” and improve travel for visitors who are unfamiliar with the Turnpike or nearby attractions.
“It means a lot, not only for me, for the whole community (…) especially in the rush hour. It’s extremely headache for everybody,” Reyes said. “I think it’ll work out for everybody, you know? Especially for the driver.”
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise is hosting a public hearing for residents and drivers to learn more about the project, ask questions, and provide input.
You can find the link to join here.
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