Council members heard updates on the Wekiva Parkway and the portion within the city that officials aim to have open to the public in 2019.
The parkway, which will connect Lake County to the rest of Central Florida, is set to bring a large amount of growth to the city and surrounding areas.
A portion of the parkway will alter the area around U.S. 441 and State Road 46 to include an intersection and flyover bridge. The flyover bridge is being built in anticipation of added traffic heading southbound on U.S. 441 to eastbound SR 46.
Construction on this portion is set to begin in fall 2017.
Over the years of planning, city officials were given a few design choices for the new intersection. After a number of meetings, the city approved plans of adding an intersection and flyover bridge to the area as part of the project.
The intersection was the cheapest and the best choice in terms of noise and heavy lighting.
The Wekiva Parkway is set to bring quite a bit of growth to the area, something city officials have been planning for over the years. Throughout this intersection alone, Wekiva Parkway officials found traffic will increase to more than double in the intersection by 2019. By 2039, the number of vehicles in the intersection will grow to more than five times the amount measured in 2012.
They are hoping to take advantage of the new traffic and development with the Wolf Branch Innovation District.
The city has zoned the area to allow for retail, industrial and office uses.
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