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LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — A single barrier is all that prevents Lake County drivers from cutting their commutes to Walt Disney World in half.
Deborah Running says if Sawgrass Bay Boulevard in Lake County were open to Flemings Road in Orange County, it would cut down on drive times considerably.
Right now she has to take US-27 to US-192 and then up to Avalon Road to access Western Way and the back entrance to Disney World.
“That would take 35 minutes, maybe 40-45,” Running explained. “If I went this way it would take about 15 to get to the same spot.”
This way is the end of Sawgrass Bay Boulevard where a newly constructed cul-de-sac from Lake County is located.
Off the cul-de-sac is a road with a barrier. On the other side of the barrier is Flemings Road, which provides access to Western Way and Disney.
“It does not make sense. It’s a road that exists. It connects Lake County to Orange County, and it could cut people’s drive times in half,” said Running.
Orange County put up the barrier, preventing drivers from traveling between the two counties.
A year ago we told you what drivers would do: go off-road to cut through to Disney.
While not as commonplace now, people will still do it to cut their drive time in half.
“It could definitely be connected if Orange County would just agree to do it,” said Running.
Orange County does plan to remove the barrier, but city leaders are waiting for a developer to make Flemings Road a four-lane road that can handle the anticipated traffic.
We obtained a study for Orange County that found if no truck traffic was allowed, Flemings Road could handle the local traffic from Lake County for the next 10 years.
But Orange County’s manager of the transportation planning division said opening the road during construction would cost more, and could take longer to construct.
Orange County recently updated its estimated construction completion forecast from Jan. 1, 2026, to Nov. 30, 2026, another setback for Running.
“Disappointed and a little angry,” said Running.
Running is part of a group, Connect 2025, hoping to keep Orange County’s promise to open the road up to Lake County.
The group Connect 2025 says the biggest people to benefit from the connection are the service workers living in Lake County, but working at Disney and the attractions area.
They say that opening the connection would have economic and environmental benefits.
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Jerry Hume
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