City officials and the public were given the first look-see this week at what possible improvements might entail at the intersection of Rock Springs Road and Welch Road, as well as extensions of the West Orange Trail.
Possible alternatives to the work were shown to city officials Wednesday, January 19, in a morning meeting of the city’s Development Review Committee (DRC), and in the evening at a City Council meeting.
The presentations were made by Amy Sirmans, consultant project manager with VHB, and Lara Bouck, senior transportation engineer with MetroPlan Orlando. The various alternatives and information provided by Sirmans and Bouck come in the midst of a study funded by MetroPlan, the regional transportation planning authority for Orange, Seminole, and Osceola counties.
The study was begun because the intersection of Rock Springs Road and Welch Road is considered one of the worst in Apopka and with more development in the ground and proposed on the north side of Apopka, the traffic backups will only get worse, officials have said.
Apopka-area residents and others who drive through the area, however, shouldn’t expect to see any major work done soon as funding must still be found for design and construction of the hoped-for improvements. City of Apopka traffic coordinator Pam Richmond said she thinks it could be about three years before dirt is turned to begin actual construction of any eventual improvements.
While both the DRC and City Council meetings were open to the public, a live virtual meeting designed specifically for the public is scheduled for Thursday, January 27, at 6 p.m. Members of the public may register to listen to the meeting by visiting MetroplanOrlando.org/rocksprings. A recording of the live meeting will be available for viewing through February 28.
Among the proposed changes for the intersection are raised traffic separators on both roads leading into the intersection. Also, the changes planned will include two left-turn lanes going from southbound Rock Springs Road onto Welch Road.
The West Orange Trail extension part of the study calls for the trail to be extended north along Rock Springs Road to Kelly Park Road from its current terminus at Rock Springs Road and Lester Road.
The full story begins on page 1A of the Friday, January 21, 2022 issue of The Apopka Chief. Subscribe today!
The Apopka Chief and The Planter are weekly community newspapers, independently owned and family operated, that have served the greater Apopka area in Central Florida since 1923 and 1965 respectively.
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