OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Osceola County celebrated the completion of the Westside Boulevard Extension Monday, marking a major milestone in efforts to improve mobility and connectivity in one of the fastest-growing areas of the county.
The extension connects existing segments of Westside Boulevard and expands access to key regional corridors, including U.S. 192 and Ronald Reagan Parkway.
By offering an alternative route west of U.S. 27, the new roadway aims to reduce congestion on heavily traveled roads such as U.S. 27 and Goodman Road — improving travel times, safety, and reliability for residents, visitors and emergency services.
“If you could imagine it was actually like a dead end. So, there was nothing,” Osceola County District 1 Commissioner Peggy Choudhry said.
“But as we grow and as we develop, obviously, you’ve got the homes coming; you’ve got the folks coming. So, we want to make sure that our roads keep up with the infrastructure. And as we all know, in Florida, we do get stuck in traffic, so these roads are very, very critical to make sure that we’re always on top of it.”
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The four-lane divided roadway stretches from Student Drive to Barry Road and includes approximately 3,000 linear feet of new roadway. It was designed and constructed to meet modern county standards, with future expansion in mind.
The project represents a collaborative effort between Osceola County leadership and its transportation and engineering teams.
Shamika Powell lives in the area and tells News 6 that having to go around the road to reach either side was a headache, so the extension will be good for those who can now commute through it daily.
“They built two schools on either end. So, whether you’re trying to go down to make a left or make a like you are basically in school zones and then they didn’t plan very well on those pick-up lines being in the street and not in the school itself,” Powell explained.
“So having this road that comes through here definitely will make the drop off, or for me, a lot better because we could just take the street down instead of having to go all the way along, which usually takes about an extra 15 to 20 minutes because you’re getting stuck at both schools.”
While Powell is happy to see the community grow, she wants safety to be a top priority.
“So, you just hope that there’s a little bit more attention on the actual community and the children and families that live here. Speedbumps, stop signs, four-way stop signs and definitely stoplights,” she said.
Choudhry said this is not the end, as the county plans to add additional improvements throughout the area.
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“We are getting a traffic light and the corner for Bella Citta and West Side Boulevard coming for 2027. We’re going to continue working on efforts like that, and we will continue making sure that our top, obviously, priority is safety, security, so all our roads will meet those standards,” she said.
According to the county, an additional southern extension to connect Westside Boulevard to the south will be designed and constructed by development interests fronting the corridor.
For more information on the Westside Boulevard extension, click here.