ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — After a number of crashes, the Florida Department of Transportation is looking at making changes on Silver Star Road in Orange County.

What You Need To Know

FDOT is holding an open house on a project to add safety improvements to Silver Star Road

The project is from Lake Stanley Road to Hiawassee Road

FDOT says the stretch of Silver Star Road has seen 134 crashes between January 2020 and April 2025

Improvements include upgraded intersections, improved crosswalks and median modifications

An open house is happening from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Ocoee Lakeshore Center.

“Traffic has definitely gotten worse,” said Dr. Andrew Choset, who has owned the Silver Star Animal Hospital for the past decade.

Speeding is a big problem, Choset says, which is a dangerous combination with another issue he sees.

“There’s always people that are crossing, jaywalking essentially,” Choset said.

According to FDOT, this stretch of Silver Star Road from Lake Stanley Road to Hiawassee Road has seen 134 crashes between January 2020 and April 2025.

Two of those crashes were deadly, and another 20 resulted in serious injuries.

“Usually at the intersection with Apopka Vineland (Road) over there you’ll hear screeches, tire screeches and sometimes the actual impact,” Choset said.

That’s why FDOT is proposing changes to Silver Star Road.

“Safety is FDOT’s highest priority, and this project is focused on reducing crashes and improving conditions for drivers and pedestrians along the corridor,” said FDOT spokesperson Elizabeth Gifford. “The planned improvements include upgraded intersections, improved crosswalks, enhanced pedestrian signals, and median modifications designed to reduce conflicts and improve safety.”

Choset says he would like another addition down the middle of road.

“It would be nice if they put up the barriers like they’ve done on Pine Hills Road, which I think are probably very effective to stop that pedestrian traffic going across the way they do now,” he said.

Gifford says the FDOT plan doesn’t include a pedestrian fence.

Construction on the more than $4 million project is expected to begin in the fall of next year.