Widen Western Beltway (SR 429) PD&E Public Hearing Exhibit Room

The Florida Department of Transportation, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, welcomes you to the Public Hearing for the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study to Widen Western Beltway from North of Interstate 4 to Seidel Road in Osceola and Orange Counties.

The study limits extend from north of Interstate 4, Milepost 1, to Seidel Road, Milepost 11. The project is located within Osceola and Orange Counties.

A PD&E Study determines if there is an engineering and environmentally feasible alternative to meet the future needs determined in the planning phase. It involves the preparation of preliminary engineering and environmental documentation.

Key components of the PD&E process include an evaluation of existing conditions, identification of future traffic needs, development of alternatives, and an evaluation of the alternatives based on environmental and engineering factors. An important component of the PD&E process is public and agency involvement. All findings and recommendations are documented at the end of the study. If a build alternative is selected, then the project moves forward into the design phase. For more information on the PD&E Study process visit the project website, scroll down to the Documents section, and under Videos drop-down menu you will find the PD&E process video.

Project needs arise from issues and concerns that may frequently slow down traffic, cause delays, or lead to accidents. The need to widen the Western Beltway is based on enhancing safety, accommodating travel demand through the year 2050, improving travel times and reliability, and enhancing economic viability, emergency responsiveness, and evacuation times.

Widening Western Beltway is part of roadway improvements for a series of existing and planned roadways connecting I-4 to Florida’s Turnpike and SR 417.

In the morning peak hour, a reduction in intersection delays occurs with the proposed improvements as compared with the No Build scenario.

The percentage decrease in intersection delay is shown in green and any intersection delay increase is shown in orange versus the No Build scenario.

The total intersections delay in minutes for the No Build scenario versus the Build scenario are depicted in column/histogram figure.

The New Livingston Road intersection Level of Service (LOS) and Delay (seconds per vehicle) are also shown in the 2050 design year.

In the evening peak hour, a reduction in intersection delays occurs with the proposed improvements as compared with the No Build scenario.

The percentage decrease in intersection delay is shown in green and any intersection delay increase is shown in orange versus the No Build scenario.

The total intersections delay in minutes for the No Build scenario versus the Build scenario are depicted in column/histogram figure.

The New Livingston Road intersection Level of Service (LOS) and Delay (seconds per vehicle) are also shown in the 2050 design year.

To accommodate growth, there are several PD&E, design, and construction projects near this PD&E Study. The most important projects relative to this study include the Poinciana Parkway Extension Connector PD&E Study and the Central Florida Expressway Authority’s design project for Poinciana Parkway from Ronald Reagan Parkway to County Road 532. Other projects include I-4 Beyond the Ultimate, widening County Road 532, and widening Old Lake Wilson Road over I-4. These projects alone do not accommodate all the anticipated traffic increases associated with growth in this region. Additional improvements are still needed.

The proposed improvements widen State Road 429 from north of I-4 to Seidel Road and include interchange improvements at Sinclair Road.

The proposed improvements widen State Road 429 from north of I-4 to Seidel Road and include a new interchange at an extension of Livingston Road and interchange improvements at US 192.

The proposed improvements widen State Road 429 from north of I-4 to Seidel Road and include interchange improvements at Western Way.

The proposed improvements widen State Road 429 from north of I-4 to Seidel Road and include interchange improvements at Seidel Road.

As part of the study, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise will evaluate the potential social, natural, physical, and cultural effects of the project. Every effort will be made to avoid or minimize impacts to these features. Impacts that cannot be avoided will be mitigated.

The evaluation matrix summarizes the effects evaluation results of the Preferred Alternative in comparison to the No-Build Alternative. The preferred alternative improves future traffic operations and safety but requires right-of-way, wetland, surface water, floodplain, and conservation easement impacts. The total project cost, including design, right-of-way, mitigation, and construction is approximately $398 million dollars.

Following the Alternatives Public Information Meeting, public comments were reviewed in conjunction with the social, cultural, environmental, and engineering factors to reach a recommendation on a Preferred Alternative. The Preferred Alternative is shown at this Public Hearing. This study is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2023. Please note that this schedule is subject to change, and future phases including design, right-of-way, and construction are not currently funded.

This project is being developed in accordance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status.  Please contact one of the Title VI coordinators shown here to express any concerns regarding Florida Turnpike’s compliance with Title VI.

If you would like to speak with someone regarding this project, please contact one of the Turnpike representatives listed here.