American Dream

For many years the Seminole Expressway tollroad dead-ended 10km (6mi) short of I-4, the maindrag. Opponents said filling the gap wouldn't attract extra traffic. Motorists would continue to use the free surface roads, they claimed. Eventually opposition to completing the pike was overcome, and the final 10km of road
opened Sept 2002.

The opponents were wrong. Traffic was an average 20k/day before the completion. In 2003 it grew to 25.8k and in 2004 to 29.1k. That's almost a 50% increase in two years. Revenue at $18.3m in 2002 rose to $23.3m in 2003 and $27.4m in 2004.

The Seminole Expressway (FL417) is operated by Florida's Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) in the northwestern part of the Orlando
area. Until the final leg was built traffic proceeding north exited the tollroad at US17/92 in Sanford. The new leg has one set of ramp plazas midway, no mainline plaza. At its far southern end at the Orange county line the Seminole Exwy links with the
Central Florida Greeneway (also FL417) which is something of a belt route operated by Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority (OOCEA).

Unlike the Seminole, an FTE pike to the east of the Orlando area, the Bee Line West Expressway has seen rather little growth in traffic: 2001 18.7k, 2004 21.8k.