Orange County is putting serious money on the table to speed up long-promised fixes on one of its most feared roads. Commissioners voted Tuesday to front $20 million to help widen and add safety upgrades along a deadly stretch of State Road 50, moving the start of major construction up to 2027 instead of 2029. The county’s early payment is set to be reimbursed by the Florida Department of Transportation in quarterly installments beginning in 2028, officials said. Commissioner Kelly Martinez Semrad called the corridor a lethal stretch and framed the vote as a direct answer to years of crashes and urgent pleas from nearby residents.
Board Moves To Merge Segments And Jump The Line
According to an Orange County media preview for the June 16 meeting, the county agreed to roll two separate FDOT widening segments into one larger job so work can start sooner. The segments run from Avalon Park Boulevard to the Econ River Bridge and from the bridge to Chuluota Road. Orange County Government reports that the $20 million contribution will be fully reimbursed by FDOT, with $2 million coming back each quarter in fiscal year 2028. County staff told commissioners that combining the segments is expected to cut delays tied to staggered funding and let FDOT advertise the unified project earlier than originally planned.
What FDOT Has On The Drawing Board
The Florida Department of Transportation already has multiple East Colonial Drive projects in the design pipeline, including a 2.5-mile widening from Avalon Park Boulevard to Chuluota that would add one lane in each direction and a raised median, according to the agency’s project page. Florida Department of Transportation (CFLRoads) notes that the work is slated to include safer accommodations for people biking and walking, a new access road near East River High School, and right-of-way acquisition that is currently underway. The FDOT listing lays out technical details and cost estimates and shows the corridor in active design status as of late May 2026.
Deadly Crash Record Fuels Neighborhood Pressure
Neighborhood groups and local officials have been pushing hard for changes along this stretch after a series of severe wrecks. As reported by WFTV, MetroPlan Orlando data show the corridor logged 14 deadly crashes from 2020 to 2024, and the South Tanner Road and SR 50 intersection alone saw 51 crashes over five years. Commissioner Martinez Semrad told colleagues that FDOT’s package calls for signalized intersections, new lighting, and sidewalks.
What Drivers And Neighbors Should Expect Next
With Tuesday’s vote, construction is now scheduled to kick off in 2027, and county and FDOT staff say residents should expect public outreach on right of way work and construction staging before any major lane or road closures hit. Orange County Government and the Florida Department of Transportation (CFLRoads) site provides timelines, maps, and contact information for affected property owners and regular commuters. County staff said the reimbursement agreement clears the way for FDOT to put the combined contract out to bid sooner than it otherwise could, and officials expect more detailed construction plans and schedules to roll out as design and right of way work continue.
