Anticipation for the Innovation Way project to be completed in its entirety is reaching a frenzied peak and motorists traveling in the area are shouting, “A little less talk and a lot more action!” Innovation Way South, (also known as the Moss Park extension) runs from the Beachline to the interchange at SR 417 at Moss Park Road, going through Innovation Place. Unfortunately, except for some work being done on the interchange, design and funding of this phase of Innovation Way has not allowed construction to begin.

When completed, Innovation Way will stretch 17 miles between UCF and the Orlando International Airport. After Innovation Way is constructed past Avalon Park and into International Corporate Park (ICP), the next step is building an interchange that will take the road further southwest, past the Beachline to the SR 417 and to Narcoossee Road and straight into Orlando International Airport. Innovation Way South, this final leg of the Innovation Way Corridor, consists of roadway segments extending from the Beach Line to SR 417.

This section of the Innovation Way southerly corridor will include a number of activity centers surrounding a centralized village.  The roadway network includes two distinct routes: Innovation Way South and Moss Park Road extension, providing easy access around a central village.

According to Jim Harrison, Orange County’s Director of Growth Management Department, in his September 2008 Innovation Way Update, it is better to look at funding for the overall project as opposed to individual segments of the project. At that time, the update on Innovation Way South was that agreements were being negotiated and that scheduling for this project was dependent on those agreements as well as acquiring funding. According to Commissioner Linda Stewart’s office, that update is still where we stand today.

Additionally, the county is currently in negotiations with the relevant property owners to finalize plans. As part of the negotiated agreements with these property owners, a corridor will be preserved for an eventual integrated transportation system combining roads, mass transit services, trails, and bike paths.

In June 2008, the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority (OOCEA) broke ground on the new State Road 417 interchange at Moss Park Road and the project is expected to be completed by January 2010. A public/private agreement with developers of Innovation Way Place DRI will allow for the design of the Moss Park Road Extension from the SR 417 interchange to north of Wewahootee Road. The design will take roughly 12 months to complete.

Ultimately, the completion of all legs of the Innovation Way project is predicated to create 83,200 jobs, 42,500 residences and 30 million square feet of commercial development. But first, these projects have to get underway.

Article by Johnny Duncan