OVIEDO, Fla. – Seminole County held a public meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss possibly extending Slavia Road in Oviedo, and several residents showed up to voice their complaints.
According to county officials, the proposal would extend Slavia Road to the east to provide another route for drivers traveling from Aloma Avenue to Alafaya Trail.
“The purpose of the study is to evaluate potential alignments, including right of way impacts, environmental impacts, stormwater needs and cost,” the county’s website reads.
Seminole County Public Works stated in a release that the area has suffered from high traffic volume, so the extension could help alleviate congestion along Chapan Road and Mitchell Hammock Road.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
County leaders said that the plan being considered is a four-lane roadway stretching just over a mile long. Several plans are under consideration, as shown below.
Oviedo has been trying to tackle issues with traffic since last year, with Mayor Megan Sladek asking residents to walk or bike to help ease the gridlock plaguing the city.
The latest road extension proposal comes as part of a 10-year mobility plan aimed at addressing heavy traffic congestion within the city.
During the meeting on Tuesday evening, hundreds of Oviedo residents showed up, with several voicing concerns about the proposed project.
Resident Pat Stanforth said she was disappointed with Tuesday’s meeting, which didn’t include a public question and answer portion. The county instead asked for residents to submit written questions for consideration.
“I’m concerned about the flooding as well. I’ve lived in Seminole County for 33 years, and every time there’s a hurricane, the farm behind floods more and more, and this time, it was up to my property line. It’s just going to get worse if they put anything else in there,” Stanforth said.
Homeowner Heather Sizemore said she is also concerned about flooding.
“We saw how much flooding was in the area. My home backs up into a retention pond, so I have huge concerns over the safety of my property,” Sizemore said.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: