The Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) Governing Board has unanimously approved the Poinciana Parkway Extension Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study and advanced the approximate three mile project to the production phase including design and construction.

Design is expected to begin in Spring of 2020 on the proposed expressway, critically needed to ease traffic congestion and improve regional connectivity for Osceola County drivers. Ranked the second fastest growing county in Florida, some Osceola residents commute approximately 43 minutes per trip a day, nearly double the national average. The proposed expressway will enhance mobility by extending the Poinciana Parkway north to County Road (CR) 532 at the Osceola County/Polk County line.

“The Poinciana Parkway Extension project has been years in the making and would not have been possible without the vision and efforts of our region’s leaders. With today’s action, along with the road improvements planned by the Florida Department of Transportation and Osceola County, we have achieved a great win toward solving transportation problems for the residents of Poinciana, Osceola County and the fast growing Central Florida region as a whole,” said CFX Board Member and Osceola County Commissioner Fred Hawkins.

CFX in July 2018 began the PD&E Study to evaluate alternatives to extend Poinciana Parkway north to County Road (CR) 532 at the Osceola County/Polk County line. The goal of the study is to evaluate and recommend a viable and fundable transportation corridor that will improve regional connectivity; accommodate anticipated transportation demand; provide consistency with local and regional plans; support economic viability, job creation, and intermodal opportunities; and enhance evacuation and emergency services.

The study evaluates engineering, estimated project costs, and all alternatives and their potential impacts to the physical, natural, social and cultural environment. The study determined that the project is viable and fundable in accordance with CFX policies and procedures.

The preferred alternative, Alternative 5A without slip ramps to Ronald Reagan Parkway, had the lowest social impacts and overall cost, and lower natural impacts that other alternatives considered. The preferred alternative also had the highest projected traffic.