State Road 451 spurs 2.5 miles north from SR 414 (John Land Apopka Expressway) near South Apopka, to U.S. 441 (Orange Blossom Trail) northwest of Downtown Apopka. There are no mainline exits on the four lane toll road, but a $2.2 million connector opened in August 2013 between the north end of SR 451 and Vick Road.1
Signs for SR 451 began appearing in November 2012,1 foreshadowing the eventual shift of SR 429 from the Western Beltway westward. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) straight line diagrams attribute 1.868 miles to SR 451, from the exchange with SR 414 north to U.S. 441.
Costing $237 million, the Western Beltway was completed north to Apopka in July 2000. Plans at the time called for SR 414 to be a toll free road built by FDOT. The alignment took SR 414 under SR 429 with no access. Funds for that road never materialized, and the Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority (OOCEA) took over the project in 2004.2
Design changes made by the OOCEA included elevating SR 414 (Apopka Expressway) and constructing a systems interchange with SR 429. A mile long section of the Western Beltway was demolished and SR 429 was realigned westward to the new exchange.2
Accommodating construction of the $1.6 billion Wekiva Parkway, the new Apopka Expressway curved 3.7 miles northwest to Orange Blossom Trail (OBT) at Plymouth. Costing $54 million, the SR 429 extension opened to traffic on January 18, 2013, at which time the beltway spur north to OBT was officially renumbered as SR 451.3,4
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| Exit 30 separates from SR 429 north by AdventHealth Apopka hospital and across Harmon Road to the flyover for SR 451 (Western Beltway) north. 02/25/17 |
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| Traffic separates at a directional T interchange over CR 437A (Ocoee Apopka Road) for SR 414 (John Land Apopka Expressway) east to Maitland and SR 451 (Western Beltway) north into Apopka. 02/25/17 |
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| SR 451 confirming marker posted ahead of the Orange County Road 437A (Ocoee Apopka Road) underpass. 07/31/14 |
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| Passing east of Lake Fuller and Marshall Lake, a semi rural stretch leads SR 451 north beyond CR 437A to U.S. 441 (Orange Blossom Trail). 07/31/14 |
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| U.S. 441 (Orange Blossom Trail) angles northwest from Downtown Apopka to intersect the north end of SR 451 opposite Vick Road. The four lane arterial continues to Plymouth, Zellwood and Tangerine in northwest Orange County. 07/31/14 |
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| Speeds reduce to 45 miles per hour beyond the end overhead for SR 451 at Marshall Lake Road. 07/31/14 |
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| The partially built diamond interchange with U.S. 441 was reconfigured in 2013 to accommodate the short extension of Vick Road south from Old Dixie Highway (CR 424). 07/31/14 |
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| Milepost 2.5 for SR 451 stands along the bridge over the CSX Railroad. The span was widened to accommodate a southbound roadway from Vick Road. 07/31/14 |
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| U.S. 441 (OBT) joins Apopka with Mt. Dora, Eutis and Taveras in Lake County. The Apopka city center lies 1.3 miles to the southeast. 07/31/14 |
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| Vick Road extends north from U.S. 441 and parallel Old Dixie Highway (CR 424) to Spring Ridge and Ponkan Road in north Apopka. 07/31/14 |
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| Vick Road ties into U.S. 441 (Orange Blossom Trail) and the southbound beginning of SR 451 just beyond Old Dixie Highway (CR 424). 03/31/18 |
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| U.S. 441 (Orange Blossom Trail) angles northwest from Downtown Apopka to meet Vick Road and SR 451 ahead of Plymouth. 03/31/18 |
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| Ramps from U.S. 441 (Orange Blossom Trail) south and Vick Road converge ahead of the Marshall Lake Road underpass. A SR 451 confirming marker follows. 06/29/13 |
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| Johns Road spans SR 451 west from a commerce park, one mile north of the directional T interchange with SR 414 (John Land Apopka Expressway). 06/29/13 |
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| SR 414/429 overlap 3.7 miles northwest to U.S. 441 (OBT) along the John Land Apopka Expressway. SR 414 continues the toll road 5.2 miles east to OBT and Maitland Boulevard at Lockhart. 06/29/13 |
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| SR 451 spans CR 437A (Ocoee Apopka Road) by painted shields preceding the ramp separation for SR 414 east and SR 429 (Western Beltway) south. 06/29/13 |
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| The eastbound flyover joins SR 414 (Apopka Expressway) directly. SR 414 extends east through Maitland as a controlled access arterial / expressway to U.S. 17/92. 06/29/13 |
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| The ramp for SR 429 (Western Beltway) south joins a two lane distributor roadway from SR 414 west. There is no access to SR 429 north. 06/29/13 |
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| A flyover elevates across the Western Beltway mainline and Harmon Road, joining SR 429 south ahead of Exit 29 to CR 437A (Ocoee-Apopka Road). 06/29/13 |
Sources:
- "A quicker connection to S.R. 429 for Apopka." Orlando Sentinel, The (FL) - October 11, 2012.
- "S.R. 429's days are numbered near Apopka -- section to become S.R. 451." Orlando Sentinel, The (FL) - November 24, 2012.
- "Happy drivers, worried neighbors - 4-mile extension of S.R. 429 to ease commute, but some fear noise, risks." Orlando Sentinel, The (FL) - January 13, 2013.
- "New section of State Road 429 opens with steady flow of traffic." Orlando Sentinel, The (FL), January 20, 2013.
06/29/13, 07/31/14, 02/25/17, 03/31/18 by AARoads
Connect with:
U.S. 441
State Road 414 - Apopka Expressway / Maitland Boulevard
State Road 429 - Western Beltway / Apopka Expwy / Wekiva Pkwy
Page Updated 04-05-2018.
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