An update on the Maitland Boulevard Extension / John Land Apopka Expressway (Florida 414 Toll). Nine miles of new freeway style roadway is either proposed or under construction from U.S. 441 in Lockhart to U.S. 441 northwest of Apopka. One year of work has produced significant results in northwestern Orange County. A tour of the work follows below:
A refresher view of the John Land Apopka Expressway projected path.
U.S. 441 (Orange Blossom Trail) northbound at Florida 414 (Maitland Boulevard), where the new John Land Apopka Expressway will begin. Work broke ground on January 19, 2007 on the first 5.5 miles of the new toll road. Work here focuses on the building of a partial-cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 441. A set of span wire traffic lights hang in the distance, for when crews shift Florida 414 onto the future westbound off-ramp so construction on the Apopka Expressway overpasses can begin.
Heading southward along Hiawassee Road, work on the Apopka Expressway cannot be missed! Retaining walls are in place for the freeway leading west.
Turning westward from Hiawassee Road southbound at the future Florida 414. Three sets of pier supports await the new toll road. Work will eventually result in a split-diamond interchange between both Hiawassee and the nearby Lakeville Road.
Heading back north on Lakeville Road, Florida 414 features many retention ponds along its course, including this one on the southwest quadrant with the future split-diamond interchange.
Nearing the large rises of the Apopka Expressway on Lakeville Road north. Construction signals reside on both Hiawassee and Lakeville Road, and work was underway, even on this Saturday afternoon!
A wye interchange will join Keene Road with Florida 414 east and Keene Road from Florida 414 west. This view looks southward at the future eastbound on-ramp.
Continuing west along Keene Road at the Florida 414 Toll future overpass.
A right-hand turn onto Clarcona Road northbound later, another over crossing of the Apopka Expressway comes into view.
Some signs are already in place on the Apopka Expressway above, including this one that will advise westbound motorists of the forthcoming main line toll plaza west of Clarcona Road.
Marden Road presently is discontinuous between Keene Road to the south and Ocoee-Apopka Road (vastly unsigned Orange County 437A) to the north. This view looks west toward Florida 429 Toll. Construction here remains in the earth-work phase, as crews continue to excavate soil to lower the roadway. A 210′ bridge will carry Marden Road above Florida 414 eventually, but until then, the road will remain closed. Unfortunately motorists bound for the landfill to the south have grown frustrated with the closure and discarded at least eight piles of garbage along side Marden Road.
Shifting to west of the existing Western Beltway, earth work is also well underway at the future Florida 414 over crossing of Ocoee-Apopka Road.
In addition to the creation of bridges over Orange County 437A, work here will also result in the building of a directional stack interchange with the Apopka Expressway continuation northwestward. When this is complete, a portion of original Florida 429 Toll will be demolished so that both 429 and Florida 414 tie into one another. However most of this work is slated for Phase II of the project. Phase I will result in Florida 414 ending prematurely at-grade with Orange 437A, with a temporary ramp connection from Florida 429 south to Florida 414 east via a left-hand turn. Connections from Florida 414 west to Florida 429 south will be accomplished via the current Exit 30 half-diamond with Orange 437A.
The section of Florida 429 to be removed includes the nearby half-diamond interchange with Ocoee-Apopka Road (Exit 30).
This exit will provide access from Florida 429 north to Florida 414 east initially, but as part of Phase II, a full diamond interchange will replace the exit at the southernmost crossing of Orange County 437A at the Western Beltway. As pictured here, work here has yet to begin on the replacement interchange, because funding for this element of the project has yet to materialize.
The January 2007 news update on the OOCEA web site indicates a Summer 2009 projected completion date. However a look at the work in the field and the updated Project schedule http://www.oocea.com/assets/414/Project%20schedule.pdf at OOCEA hints at a possible late 2008.
Sources:
OOCEA Florida 414 – Fall 2007 Construction Update http://www.oocea.com/assets/SR_414/SR414NEWSLETFALL07.pdf
Nice report. But please don’t call a tollroad a “freeway” – a self contradiction. It is a tollway or an expressway if you want to be generic.
Peter Samuel
editor TOLLROADSnews.com
The term freeway as defined by the FHWA MUTCD Section 1A.13, Paragraph 27 defines freeway as:
“a divided highway with full control of access”
We generally define freeway and expressway by their MUTCD definitions on AARoads.
By definition, freeway does not mean free in the monetary sense. However I don’t necessarily disagree with you on your point.
The same MUTCD section defines an expressway as:
– a divided highway with partial control of access.
These terms generally apply by their definition more out west than in the east. But we almost never call a freeway an expressway, unless thats its formal name.
I think this road should connect with I-4 eventually, especially since the interchange with I-4 is being upgraded. Granted I’ve only driven on 414 one time, but it seemed like there was space to squeeze in an interchange or two with ramps.
Also, I think it’s silly that part of 429 is going to waste after such a short time. Thanks for nothing Wekiva Basin.
The OOCEA (agency funding this new project) has posted their Winter 2008 newsletter. Updates on the Toll414 and future Wekiva Parkway are published here (on page 2).
http://www.expresswayauthority.com/assets/navigator/Navigator_Winter08.pdf