ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Officials with the Central Florida Expressway Authority on Thursday will break ground on a brand new highway that will connect Lake and Orange counties.
State Road 516, known as the Lake/Orange Expressway, will span 4.4 miles, connecting U.S. 27 in Lake County to State Road 429 in western Orange County.
The estimated $546 million project is being called a first-of-its-kind because it will be a pioneering test bed for electric car charging, although officials said in order for the charge to work, owners will have to install specific mechanical parts in their vehicles.
The goal is to bring some traffic relief for drivers in Lake and Orange counties, which have experienced massive growth over the years.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings cited other benefits, too.
“This new road is a pioneering example of how roads can be planned and designed sustainably with less impact on our ecosystems and with more applications of transportation technology,” Demings said. “SR-516 will link residents to jobs, education and much more across our counties and open access to some of the region’s most dynamic communities.”
The project will be built in three segments, with construction scheduled to begin later this month.
The project is expected be completed in 2027.