Phase 1 of Poinciana Parkway set to open April 30

POINCIANA, Fla. — Thousands of Poinciana drivers are anticipating the opening of the new Poinciana Parkway in a few weeks.
 
The toll road will stretch from U.S. 17-92 and Kinny Harmon Road to Cypress Parkway.
 
"This is a long awaited and desperately needed road," Atlee Mercer, chairman of the Osceola County Expressway Authority, said.
 
The first phase of the parkway will open on April 30 and is expected to relieve traffic headaches for people traveling to and from Poinciana.
 
The project cost around $135 million and Mercer said needing to build a bridge over the wetlands made the project more tedious.
 
"Alligators and snakes and raccoons and what not, keeping them safe while building the road and not affecting the environment," Mercer said.
 
Mercer said they were faced with the decision on whether to make the parkway a toll road, but without tolls, the road would be too expensive.
 
Driving the entire 10-mile stretch will cost drivers $2.25.
 
"Not everyone will use this road, but for those people who are going to I-4, or to Disney World for work, or doing whatever they want to do and need some reliability about when they'll get there, it's the perfect solution," Mercer said.
 
The parkway will be free from April 30 to June 1.
 
Officials hope phase two will be open by the fall.

Cox Media Group