OOCEA to go for $300m bond money for several projects

Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority (OOCEA) is raising about $300m bond money for several projects:

- $75m toward work extending the Apopka Expressway another 5 miles (8km) in the northwest

- $35m for widening work on the FL408 East-West Expressway, OOCEA's busiest that goes by the downtown area and major sports arenas

- $26m for some design and land acquisition on behalf of the Wekiva Parkway in the northwest of the metro area that would complete a belt route

- $160m on some 30 smaller projects such as repaving, new shoulders, signage and safety projects

Spokesman Brian Hutchings told us they're hopeful that within the next couple of months a federal record of decision will clear the way for a real start on the Wekiva Parkway.

This project many years in planning will be 27 miles (43km) of mostly 3+3 lane expressway that will close a missing link in the area's belt route as well as improving access to the northwest and relieving congestion on I-4 and close-by surface roads.

Estimated project cost of the Wekiva Expressway is $1.8b. A traffic studyb showed traffic volumes of 50k veh/day in some segments. Service roads would be developed in places to allow local residents untolled trips.

When the Wekiva is opened the OOCEA tollroad network will be 132 centerline miles (212km).

http://www.expresswayauthority.com

http://www.expresswayauthority.com/Corporate/oursystem/SR429/WekivaParkwayRecentBackground.aspx

TOLLROADSnews 2010-07-30