In between other things this weekend, we traveled portions of the Orlando Toll Road system and other area surface roads. We drove all of the Western Beltway northbound, portions of Florida 408 Toll in both directions, the Florida’s Turnpike mainline south from U.S. 27 to the East-West Expressway, all of Florida 417 Toll southbound, and various parts of the Orange Blossom Trail, Colonial Drive, U.S. 17 & 92, Maitland Boulevard, etc. Some highlights are below:

The stack interchange between Interstate 4 and Florida 429 Toll is nearing completion. According to our friend Larry, the Daniel Webster Western Beltway opens to traffic during December of this year. This entails the southernmost six miles of freeway between U.S. 192 and Interstate 4.

Looking northbound on Interstate 4 (east) at the future on-ramp to Florida 429 Toll. The ramps await their final coating of pavement, striping, and guard rails.

Toll roads maintained by the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority see Florida Toll shields with an orange state outline rather than a black one. At least that is supposed to be how it is, but we noted orange state outlines on sections maintained by Florida’s Turnpike. Nitpicking yes, but standards are standards right?

This particular assembly lies along the Daniel Webster Western Beltway on the approach to Exit 19.

While many maps show this still as under construction, the road opened December of 2005.

Florida’s Turnpike southbound within the Florida 429 Toll (Western Beltway) stack interchange. The large stack lies adjacent to the original trumpet interchange to Florida 50 (West Colonial Drive) and Ocoee. Further east is the eastbound beginning of Florida 408 Toll (Holland East-West Expressway).

Part of the Florida 408 Toll (Holland East-West Expressway) expansion project includes the building of a new Holland West Toll Plaza west of downtown Orlando.

The plaza is virtually complete as of 11-06-06 and opens on November 10. Crews will dismantle the original plaza to the east in the following weeks.

Florida 417 Toll (Central Florida Greeneway) crosses Lake Jesup south of the Sanford area.

The large body of water is known to be the most alligator-infested in all of Florida. In addition to that tidbit, warning signs posted at the bridge ends advise of possible insect swarms!

Large diagrammatic overheads lie at the Florida 417 Toll southbound approach to Florida 408 Toll (Holland East-West Expressway).

A short connector facilitates the movements between the Central Florida Greeneway mainline and the East-West Expressway. The connector, designated secret Florida 4080, also includes a diamond interchange (Exit 1) with Valenica College Lane.

And in case anyone wondered as to whether signs for the Bee Line Expressway (Florida 528 Toll) were change to reflect the renaming to Martin Anderson Beachline Expressway, well there you have it.

Signs in both directions of the Florida 417 Toll interchange with Florida 528 Toll tout the Beachline in large capital letters!

The Lake Nona Boulevard interchange is almost ready for opening, and the exit number appears to be 19 based upon mileage.

Further west are ghost ramps for the unconstructed interchange between Florida 417 Toll (Central Florida Greenway) and Florida’s Turnpike.

Stubs exist east of the turnpike mainline and east of the interchange with Orange County 423 (John Young Parkway). Further east were sets of signs and reinforcement bar cages waiting for the eventual interchange to open. Signs included “Florida’s Turnpike Ocala/Miami”.

I hope to create new guides for the Orlando area toll roads In between my travels for the month of November and continued work on Interstate 4 in Polk and Hillsborough Counties.