ORLANDO, FL — Reconstruction projects on all remaining segments of State Road 50 in west Orange County are moving forward thanks to an infusion of federal stimulus dollars and cost savings on transportation projects throughout Central Florida.  Following unanimous approval by the MetroPlan Orlando Board to amend the organization’s Transportation Improvement Program, a project to widen SR 50 from SR 429 to Good Homes Road, is now fully funded and ready to move forward.

“One of the very few benefits of the economic slow-down is that bids on other road projects came in lower, which freed up dollars for this important project,” said Orange County Commissioner Bill Segal, who also serves as board chairman of MetroPlan Orlando.  “The people of west Orange County have needed this improvement for a long time. I couldn’t be happier to see it move forward.”

The Transportation Improvement Program is a five-year plan that assigns available funding to transportation priorities adopted by the MetroPlan Orlando Board.  The complete west SR 50 project includes seven segments, stretching 17 miles.  The construction cost to widen SR 50 from SR 429 to Good Homes Road is $58.3 million, with costs to construct all seven segments totaling $153 million.    

The MetroPlan Orlando Board also funded a reconstruction project on SR 46 from Mellonville Avenue to east of SR 415 using cost savings from other projects.  In total, $7 million was directed to the project to advance all required right-of-way purchases. 

About MetroPlan Orlando
MetroPlan Orlando is the metropolitan planning organization for Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties – the Orlando Urban Area.  As a regional transportation planning organization, MetroPlan Orlando provides the forum for local elected officials and transportation experts to work together to improve transportation for Central Florida residents, businesses and visitors.  For more information, visit www.metroplanorlando.com.