LAKE COUNTY, FL (352today.com) –Hundreds of people celebrated the completion of the Wekiva Parkway and Central Florida’s beltway at a festival over the weekend.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) organized the event to thank the community for their patience during construction and government partners for their contributions to the Wekiva Parkway.
The department developed the $1.6 billion parkway in collaboration with the Central Florida Expressway Authority.
The last section of the 25-mile Wekiva Parkway opened Jan. 27, 2024, making the final connection between State Road (SR) 429, SR 417, and Interstate 4 (I-4).
FDOT says the parkway completes what is now a 100-plus-mile beltway around the region, while helping to protect the natural resources along the Wekiva River.
“Wekiva Parkway is a project that has been decades in the making and involved many thought leaders, collaborations with several agencies, and countless discussions with residents and environmentalists,” said Florida Department of Transportation District Five Director of Transportation Operations Mike Heffinger, Jr., P.E. “And the result of all of the combined hard work is a sprawling 25-mile roadway that completes Central Florida’s beltway, but more importantly honors the natural treasures and wildlife found throughout.”
“The Wekiva River Basin provides habitat for rare or threatened species including the Florida Black Bear, Bald Eagles and Burrowing Owls,” said FDOT in a news release. “Parkway protections included purchasing 3,400 acres of land for conservation, limiting the number of interchanges in natural areas, installing 1.5 miles of wildlife crossing bridges, and moving about a mile of CR 46A out of the Seminole State Forest to reduce collisions between vehicles and wildlife.”
State transportation officials say Saturday’s celebration highlighted the Wekiva Parkway’s 10-mile trail, with guided nature tours and organized bike rides. The trail enhances pedestrian and cyclist safety and makes it easier to get to the Lower Wekiva River State Preserve, Rock Springs Run State Reserve, Seminole State Forest, and Wekiwa Springs State Park.
The state says the beltway translates to convenience for area residents, businesses, and visitors. FDOT says other sections of the parkway are already seeing more than 21,000 vehicles a day, making travel easier and reducing commute times. Transportation officials say driving on the elevated parkway means fewer vehicles on SR 46, enhancing safety for people and wildlife.
FDOT says the Wekiva Parkway is the first expressway in Central Florida to feature all electronic tolling which keeps traffic moving.
