SANFORD, Fla. — In early April, the public will have a chance to comment on the two proposed routes for a connector toll road between State Road 417 and Orlando Sanford International Airport.

What You Need To Know

  • Central Florida Expressway Authority has narrowed down a proposed route for State Road 417 connector toll road to Orlando Sanford International Airport

  • Officials say the proposal could impact several homes in the area

  • Supporters say the road is needed to alleviate congestion on Lake Mary Boulevard

  • A workshop to allow public comment on the proposals is set for April 2

For years, the Central Florida Expressway Authority has been eyeing a route to connect State Road 417 to the growing Orlando Sanford International Airport.

Now the Expressway Authority has narrowed down the possible routes to Alignment 2 or a newly created Alignment 2A.

The latter appears to go through Brian VanDusen’s property, something he has come out against.

“I think they’re breaking up the whole neighborhood with what they’re going to do,” he said.

Seminole County leaders have urged the Expressway Authority to look into a toll expressway to ease congestion on Lake Mary Boulevard and Ronald Reagan Boulevard.

“If you look at what the anticipated growth is for our Sanford Orlando Airport over the next decade or two, those roads will simply become impassable,” said Seminole County Commissioner Andria Herr, who is also a board member for the Central Florida Expressway Authority.

Information from the Expressway Authority indicates that without building a new road, traffic on Lake Mary Boulevard near the airport entrance will reach more than 36,000 vehicles a day by 2050.

Officials say building the connector could reduce that traffic by 43%.

Members of the Expressway Authority had considered an elevated highway along Lake Mary Boulevard to connect to the airport’s entrance as another option. But they say the estimated $500 million price tag it was too costly.

“An elevated road above Lake Mary Boulevard and the expense to that and the interruption to traffic flow on a day-to-day basis would be so significant that that is not feasible,” said Herr.

However, Alignment 2, with a cost of $173 million, has the potential to impact 25 parcels, including eight residential properties.

“We are not trying to do anything that would be detrimental to the general community,” said Herr. “May it be detrimental to someone in the path? Absolutely.”

 VanDusen has lived in his home for 34 years and is concerned the new road would impact him.

 “It would be hard to leave it,” he said.

On top of the direct impact, residents in other nearby communities are concerned about the impact the road would have to their quality of life and the environment.

“Part of the analysis will be considering all of the environmental interplay that will happen should a road be built,” said Herr.

Residents can have a say about the proposal at a public workshop set for Wednesday, April 2 from 6-7:30 pm.

Public Workshop:

  • Wednesday, April 2, 2025
  • 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  • Galileo School — Skyway Campus, 3755 Skyway Drive, in Sanford
  • An option to attend virtually is also available.