Opening completes western beltway around Orlando
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – After many years of construction, the final stretch of the Wekiva Parkway will officially open Friday, completing the western beltway around Orlando.
This final stretch connects the Parkway to State Road 417.
The project is designed to relieve traffic and ease travel between Seminole, Orange and Lake counties.
Friday’s opening comes more than a year after the Florida Department of Transportation opened the ramp connecting westbound I-4 to the Wekiva Parkway, creating the western alternate route around Orlando.
Wekiva Parkway ramp at I-4 (Florida Department of Transportation)The Wekiva Parkway project was first authorized in 2004 to provide travel alternatives from I-4, State Road 46 and U.S. 441. The road was designed to include habitat corridors that separate wildlife from vehicle traffic.
The $1.6 billion expressway has been under construction since 2015.
State, federal and local officials will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday.
The final section of the Wekiva Parkway is expected to open to traffic early Friday afternoon.
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