It will be several years before the Wekiva Parkway completes a beltway around Central Florida but on Wednesday a portion of the beltway opened to traffic.
The three mile stretch now open runs from Mount Plymouth Road in Orange County to State Road 46 in Sorrento in Lake County.
Florida Department of Transportation officials say within just the first couple of hours, more than 200 cars used the newly-opened stretch of roadway.
Daniel Ramos has driven around Lake County for decades, and he says a curvy stretch of Mount Plymouth Road is a deadly one.
“They try to hang the curves on that road too hard,” said Ramos.
Ramos is happy to see this first piece of the Wekiva Parkway open up to traffic.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Ramos.
It’s just the first piece of the Wekiva Parkway – which will complete Central Florida’s beltway by 2021. The road will connect from I-4 at the 417 near Sanford, and loop around the northwest side of the metro Orlando area connecting with State Road 429 - which leads back to I-4.
While that’s a while off, the new section allows drivers like Ramos to trade the dangerous part of Mount Plymouth Road for the new alternative, saving them time and worry.
“I don’t have to worry about these houses, and these kids running out in front of you,” said Ramos.
Drivers will have to pay 75 cents through E-PASS or SunPASS to use the new stretch of parkway. Ramos says that’s well worth the easier drive.
“It’s worth a $1.75,” said Ramos.
