STATE ROAD 414 (JOHN LAND APOPKA EXPRESSWAY)
Now Open from SR 429 to Maitland Boulevard
The Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority opened the first phase of State Road 414 John Land Apopka Expressway on May 15, 2009. This five mile expressway is the first new, major east-west corridor built in Central Florida in decades. This first phase of the expressway extends east from State Road 429 (Daniel Webster Western Beltway) to Maitland Boulevard.
The long-awaited SR 414 John Land Apopka Expressway will improve access to SR 429, Interstate 4, and employment centers such as Maitland Center, while relieving congestion on US 441 and many local roads in the greater Apopka area.
SR 414 History
The need for the roadway, initially called the Apopka Bypass, has been discussed for more than a decade. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) originally studied the corridor in 1998. A preferred alignment was selected in 1999, but the project stalled due to a lack of funding. In February 2004, the Expressway Authority assumed responsibility for the SR 414 extension from the FDOT. For the road alignment to be a part of the Expressway Authority system, it had to be converted to a limited-access toll road similar to SR 429. As a result, the original alignment selected in 1999 had to be modified via a Re-Evaluation Study which led to the current alignment.
On January 19, 2007, the Expressway Authority officially broke ground on the long-awaited extension of SR 414. The event was well attended and supported by many in the community. It also honored Apopka Mayor John H. Land, the longest serving mayor in Florida. Mayor Land is among the many people who understand the benefits of the long-awaited project and has been recognized for his contributions to transportation throughout Central Florida and for his devotion to serving the citizens of Apopka. He is credited in particular with his persistence in working to keep the extension of Maitland Boulevard in the forefront of transportation planning, and with encouraging the Expressway Authority to pick up the project when FDOT lacked the necessary funding. Originally conceived as a complete 9 mile new expressway, the Expressway Authority opted to break the project into two phases, largely because of rising construction and land costs.
Construction Phases
On February 14, 2009, the Expressway Authority partially opened Phase I of the SR 414 John Land Apopka Expressway.
Originally set to open in the summer of 2009, portions of construction on SR 414 were far ahead of schedule. Given this circumstance, the new SR 414 expressway was initially open from SR 429 (Daniel Webster Western Beltway) to Hiawassee Road to E-PASS and SunPass customers only, while work to accommodate cash customers continued on the Coral Hills Mainline Toll Plaza and ramp plazas. During this time, work also continued to complete the expressway between Hiawassee Road and Maitland Boulevard. Initially, the Keene Road Ramps were not accessible.
To help celebrate the partial opening of this road, the Expressway Authority and Track Shack hosted the Johnson Bros. 5k Road Challenge and a free Kids' Fun Run. Proceeds from the event benefited the Wings of Hope Foundation.
On May 15, 2009, again ahead of the initial construction schedule, the remaining section of Phase I opened to all motorists (including cash customers). All on and off access ramps for the SR 414 expressway were also opened at this time. In addition, the SR 414 Coral Hills Mainline Toll Plaza was equipped with Express Lanes that enable E-PASS and SunPass customers to pay tolls electronically at the posted highway speed resulting in better, safer and faster travel on our system.
Phase II will extend the roadway from SR 429 to the west and north to US 441 near CR 437 (Plymouth Sorrento Road). Funding for Phase II of the John Land Apopka Expressway became available under the Expressway Authority’s revised 5 Year Work Plan.
Construction is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2010 and is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2012.
For more information on Phase II of SR 414 click here.
PHASE I MAPS AND INFORMATION
For more information contact:
Brian Hutchings
Public Information Officer
407-383-5817
construction@oocea.com
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