Controversial toll road connecting Poinciana Parkway to Florida’s Turnpike advances

Central Florida Expressway Authority approves widening of SR-408

The Central Florida Expressway Authority passed a motion for a $218 million project that would ease traffic in downtown Orlando by expanding State Road 408 near Camping World Stadium.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — - Central Florida transportation officials on Thursday approved a controversial toll road that would cut through environmentally sensitive land in southern Osceola County.

The Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) voted unanimously to advance the roughly 15-mile Southport Connector Expressway, which will run through the Florida Wildlife Corridor and near the Disney Wilderness Preserve. 

The backstory:

Despite longstanding concerns about environmental impacts and low toll projections, the vote clears the final hurdle for a project officials say will ease severe congestion in the fast-growing Poinciana area.

The proposed expressway, estimated to cost over $2 billion, would extend from the southern end of Poinciana Parkway to Florida’s Turnpike, while also utilizing the existing Cypress Parkway.

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The CFX in 2017 launched a series of concept, feasibility and mobility studies to evaluate unbuilt projects from the Osceola County Expressway Authority’s comprehensive plan and determine whether any met the agency’s standards for viability and funding. 

The process included public involvement and coordination with multiple agencies.

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In 2018, CFX released the results of its study on the proposed Southport Connector Expressway, a project intended to address population growth and explore possible connections to Interstate 4, State Road 429 or Florida’s Turnpike across Osceola, Orange and Polk counties.