Osceola Parkway to 192 Expansion?

[CEO]

Is the overpass being constructed on 192 -- between Orange Lake Resort and the Publix shopping center -- the long-anticipated expansion of Osceola Parkway to 192?

If not, what is that?

If so, any idea on a completion date and if it just ends there (the footer columns are there and there seems to be enough land cleared for on and off ramps)?

 

[safetymom]

Yes they are working on it but it will be several years before it is done.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

It sure would be nice to have Osceola Parkway link straight up to 192 down there. Too much congestion on Sherberth road.

Another development in the area is the 429 expansion project through Disney. Not really for tourists, but for us locals, it'll be nice.

 

[seashoreCM]

The 192 overpass being built near Orange Lake is for a north south (toll) road linking with Florida's Turnpike west of downtown Orlando and with I-4 south of Celebration.

From what I was able to gather using Google, I guess that, a mile or so north of 192 is expected to be an interchange to a "Disney Western Entrance" going north of Animal Kingdom and joining Buena Vista near Blizzard Beach.

This arrangement, although far from perfect for doing so, could have as an ulterior motive the inhibiting of cut through traffic compared with linking up to World Drive or Osceola Parkway. Whereas linking up with Osceola west of AK Lodge would result in tons of cut through traffic.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

If a western entrance were to connect to Osceola, another way to inhibit cut through traffic might be to let Disney buses take the green light instantly at signals located at Animal Kingdom Lodge and (existing) at Sherberth Road/AK Service Road.

 

[CEO]

Thanks for the quick responses.

Tyler, I hear you on Sherberth. I still take it from time to time though it certainly has become more crowded in recent years. That has made the Black Lake Drive path to Sherberth even more tricky given what has become a tough left turn at Sherberth with all of the traffic coming off of 192.

So the overpass highway will bypass Osceola in favor of hooking up a mile or so later after Animal Kingdom itself -- and then continue all the way North to the Turnpike as it slants Northwest from Orlando and towards Wildwood? I can see the logic in doing that, with Sherberth and World Drive as free alternatives just a couple of miles down 192, but it looks like that will only benefit those driving up from the North. Merchants on 192 and US27 won't be too happy, perhaps.

I can't see how that would benefit those coming to the parks from 192, West of World Drive -- with perhaps just Magic Kingdom's TTC becoming a shorter drive (albeit one with a toll).