CFX Greenlights $12.1 Million Design Contract for Connector to Sanford Airport

The Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) has taken a major step towards developing a new road that will connect State Road 417 directly with the Orlando Sanford International Airport in Seminole County, approving a $12.1 million design contract. The board has chosen DRMP Inc. to provide design consultant services for State Road 452, also referred to as the Seminole Connector.

This approximately 1.6-mile roadway will link SR 417, located near the Lake Jesup Toll Plaza, with Lake Mary Boulevard and the airport. An interchange at Lake Mary Boulevard and a partial interchange at SR 417 will facilitate access from the south. CFX officials anticipate that this project will enhance traffic flow around the airport and along Lake Mary Boulevard while allowing more direct access to the airport.

CFX board member Andria Herr emphasizes the urgency of the project, citing growing residential development in the area. ‘The residential growth in that area is happening very aggressively,’ Herr noted, stressing that delaying the project may lead to higher future costs and increased disruptions.

Seminole County Manager Darren Gray expressed optimism about the project’s advancement, stating, ‘This has been a longtime project for us, and we’re glad it’s coming to fruition.’ Business leaders like Sheryl Nichols from the Seminole County Chamber have echoed these sentiments, warning that without this connection, the local area could struggle under the pressures of growth. Construction on SR 452 is set to commence in 2031.