WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. – If you drive on State Road 434 through the Winter Springs area, keep an eye out for a change in the speed limit.
Work is underway to lower the limit in the stretch between U.S. 17/92 and S.R. 419. News 6 drove through the area Monday and noticed the work underway. Speed limit signs that will be switched out are tagged, and there are cones in some places where new signs will soon be installed.
Some of the new speed limit signs are already in place. The speed limit used to be 45 mph all the way through, but now the lowest it drops is 35 MPH near Winter Springs Elementary School.
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The Florida Department of Transportation provided News 6 with a copy of a report that led to their decision to make these changes. Below is a list outlining exactly where the changes will occur:
- Mile Post 9.040 to Mile Post 9.175 - Retain 45 MPH
- Mile Post 9.175 to Mile Post 9.723 - Change from 45 MPH to 40 MPH
- Mile Post 9.723 to Mile Post 10.455 - Change from 45 MPH to 35 MPH
- Mile Post 10.455 to Mile Post 11.221 - Change from 45 MPH to 40 MPH
- Mile Post 11.221 to Mile Post 11.282 - Retain 45 MPH
FDOT says the location of Winter Springs Elementary School is one of the reasons why they decided a speed reduction was necessary. Their engineering study and traffic report notes the many children and families that walk to and from school right along S.R. 434. There are crossing guards at some intersections, including Sheoah Boulevard and Belle Avenue when school is in session, but there is still a lot of foot traffic next to such a busy street.
FDOT also tracked the number of crashes in the area in a three-year period. There were 272 total reported from Jan. 1, 2021, to Dec. 31, 2023. Only six of those crashes involved a driver going faster than the posted speed limit, according to FDOT.
Our News 6 crew spoke to drivers in the area on Monday to see what they think about the changes. Most didn’t even realize the speed limit had been lowered.
“The school is there and there are children that walk to school, and they walk by themselves,” said Laura Iskenderian. “So, from that perspective, I think it’s probably a good idea.”
People who live nearby and drive on S.R. 434 often do wonder if it will make traffic worse.
“I guess in certain places it’s ok where the schools are, but 45 MPH was normal here,” said Mary Gray. “Especially at the times people come to and from work it’s going to be really bad because it’s really crowded at that time.”
“They’re building those apartments down there, so they’re going to drop all of those people onto this road,” added Iskenderian. “Maybe they’re doing it in anticipation of that. I don’t know.”
The report from FDOT does include an “increase in development” as another reason to lower the speed limit in the area. The change will reflect how this corridor is changing.
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