Oviedo leaders are about to wade into one of Central Florida’s thornier traffic questions: should the city help pay for a new toll connector that would give drivers a straight shot from State Road 417 to Orlando Sanford International Airport?
The proposal, pushed by Seminole County and the Central Florida Expressway Authority, calls for a roughly two-mile toll road that would plug directly into the airport and take pressure off East Lake Mary Boulevard. Oviedo’s role in the deal is scheduled for discussion at a 5:30 p.m. work session at Oviedo City Hall.
Seminole County officials have asked Oviedo to consider using revenue from the city’s five-cent local option to help fund the project. County commissioners have already approved an initial $25 million payment, with another $25 million expected in the Oct. 2027–Sept. 2028 timeframe. County leaders are also courting Sanford, Lake Mary, and Winter Springs for contributions as the project heads toward design and construction, according to ClickOrlando.
Project background and price tag
The Central Florida Expressway Authority’s PD&E study describes the connector as an approximately two-mile expressway link from SR 417 to the airport entrance at Red Cleveland Boulevard. Planners are weighing limited-access and elevated options designed to relieve local congestion and make room for future growth around the airport corridor.
The estimated project cost is about $200 million. Agency documents show CFX expects the new route to generate roughly $48.1 million in toll revenue, leaving a sizable gap that local governments are now being asked to help fill, according to materials from the CFX.
Who would pay
So far, Seminole County has put $50 million on the table, split into two installments, and shifted $25 million from its infrastructure sales tax to get the connector moving. County staff says they will approach nearby cities about kicking in portions of their gas-tax or local option dollars to cover the rest.
Over the coming weeks, Seminole County staff plan sit-downs with Oviedo, Lake Mary, and Winter Springs to talk through how much each city might contribute and on what schedule, according to Spectrum News 13.
Local concerns and politics
Not everyone in Oviedo is thrilled about sending city money to a toll road.
“I’ve got some questions about why the City of Oviedo would be assisting with paying for a toll road,” Oviedo Mayor Megan Sladek told reporters. Some residents have raised the same issue, arguing that taxpayer funds should not help build a route drivers will still have to pay to use. Those concerns surfaced at public meetings and were reported by ClickOrlando.
What’s next
Oviedo’s official calendar lists the City Council work session for April 27 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall chambers. At that meeting, commissioners could opt to earmark the five-cent local option revenue for the connector, put off any commitment until they get more details on costs and impacts, or push for a different kind of funding partnership. The pace of Seminole County’s talks with neighboring cities is expected to influence how fast those choices come to a head, according to the City of Oviedo.
As negotiations move from county offices into city council chambers, Oviedo residents and leaders will have a formal chance to press for answers about traffic relief, neighborhood impacts, timing, and the final footprint of the road. Depending on whether local governments agree to chip in, the project’s schedule and scope could shift significantly.
