FDOT Cancels Plans to Improve Walt Disney World Traffic
The Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) newest updates have just let down Disney fans in a major way. It has just been announced that the organization is abandoning its original plans to work on the current situation with traffic entering Walt Disney World Resort. Their new plan will leave Resort Guests with no improvement to the traffic congestion situation.
Traffic Will Not Improve for Walt Disney World Guests
Disney fans are feeling let down and disappointed by the Florida Department of Transportation. The department previously announced a plan to help alleviate some of the traffic congestion surrounding the entrance roads to Walt Disney World Resort. Currently, the traffic that is coming down Hotel Plaza Boulevard is horrible for drivers trying to check in to the Resorts. Hotel Plaza Boulevard is located off SR- 535, near I-4. The Boulevard is the main way that motorists can access Disney Springs and all of the resorts and hotels in the area.
The Florida Department of Transportation made construction plans to fix the traffic by building an echelon interchange at the SR-535 area. This interchange would basically fix the entire traffic issue for drivers on Hotel Plaza Boulevard. Traffic would no longer be backed up by those who need to turn left onto the Boulevard.
The Florida DOT canceled a plan to build a flyover ramp into Disney Springs from SR-535 near Hotel Plaza Blvd (near the demolished Crossroads plaza). The loop will now go in the opposite direction from SR-535 to westbound I-4.
Old plan vs. new plan: pic.twitter.com/c6Li9qbPVH
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) March 8, 2023
Unfortunately, it was just been announced by FDOT that the project has been scrapped. Jay Leonard, the complex general manager at Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs, is disappointed by the cancellation. In an interview with Spectrum News 13, he says “It’s going to be very disappointing because we really had this expectation on the block that we’re going to have traffic coming right into our destination, and just make it a smoother arrival down our boulevard.”
The new plan will be to lengthen the I-4 west exit ramp to realign the I-4 west entrance ramp. FDOT will also build ‘the Tube,’ which will be an additional lane, or express lane, on I-4 west. The FDOT still believes that this development will work and help the heavy traffic on Hotel Plaza Boulevard. Disney fans, community residents, and Cast Members are still disappointed by the cancellation and hope that the infuriating traffic does get better.
