SANFORD, Fla. — A proposal to build a toll road directly to Sanford’s airport is receiving push back from neighbors.

The Central Florida Expressway Authority is studying the possibility of connecting State Road 417 to Orlando Sanford International Airport to help ease traffic.

“The concern is that some of the only areas that aren’t already developed that seem like they’d be a good route from 417 to the airport are our last remaining conservation areas,” said Chelsea LeNoble, who lives across Lake Mary Boulevard from the airport.

The Central Florida Expressway Authority is considering building a direct connection from State Road 417 to near the airport’s entrance off Lake Mary Boulevard.

LeNoble understands there’s congestion in the area, but she’s concerned a new road would take away lands that have been used to prevent flooding.

“That land right there is the only thing that keeps water out of your house,” she said.

Seminole County Commissioner Bob Dallari says a new road would help, not hurt the area.

“When we put a road like that in we have to take all that flooding into account,” said Dallari, “so if there was flooding in that area, we would be required to fix it.”

He, along with the other commissioners, urged the expressway authority to study the 417 connector road to help ease the pressure airport traffic has put on other roads in the area.

“We believe it’s going to show that the need is there,” Dallari said. “Not just from a transportation element, but also decongestionizing the roads in that exit area, but also making it financially feasible.”

LeNoble worries the new road won’t relieve congestion, but just add more traffic to the area.

“At that point it’s hard to see how building a road could do anything that could benefit our community,” she said.

The Central Florida Expressway Authority emphasizes that they are still in the early stages of studying the proposed connector route.

A public meeting is tentatively scheduled for May 2023.