The ongoing construction of the Wekiva Parkway has been given a timeframe for completion by The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the date has been set for fall of next year. This project is being financed through a joint partnership of the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) and the Florida Department of Transport. The entire construction cost of this Wekiva Parkway Project is estimated at $1.6 billion.
The Wekiva Parkway road project, which is an extension of Daniel Webster Western Beltway State road 429, is expected to provide alternative traveling routes as well as decongest State Road 46 and U.S Highway 441. The expressway spans for 25 miles, but approximately 13 miles of the road has been completed. The final 12-mile segment of the construction work will be done in three sections, which are Sections 6, 7, and 8.
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Section 6 of the Wekiva Parkway road project will feature the replacement of parts of State road 46 with raised parkway and a non-tolled road lying side by side for local travel. This section will stretch for about 6 miles and will cost around $238 million.
Construction for Section 7 is divided into two, Section 7A and Section 7B. While 7A will span for 3.5 miles, 7B will run for 1.3 miles. Section 7A will be made up of four roundabouts, raised roadways, and ramps for entry and exits. The estimated cost of completion of section 7A is $108 million. Section 7B which will cost about $18 million will consist of the expansion of State Road 46, the upgrade of the lighting, and modification of the pedestrian walk to include bike lanes.
Section 8’s construction will feature the widening or replacement of 20 bridges and an interchange connecting Interstate 4 and State Road 417. This section will cost around $255 million and will cover about 2.6 miles.
Lane Construction Co., a company that specializes in complex civil infrastructure is in charge of the Wekiva Parkway project and has been offered a $4 million incentive by the FDOT.
Carla Bell Johnson, an assistant administrator for Orange County, pointed out that the economy of the region will experience a boost upon completion of the elaborate transportation system being developed through the Wekiva Parkway project.
