Longwood road project would affect 11 nearby commercial properties

A $5 million overhaul at one of Longwood’s busiest intersections is poised to trade a cleaner traffic pattern for land taken from 11 nearby commercial properties, including a portion of a Walgreens site. The Florida Department of Transportation says the work at State Road 434 and County Road 427 is meant to cut congestion, improve safety and make the corridor easier to navigate for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.

The project runs from South Milwee Street to just west of South Oleander Street. FDOT says it would add dual left-turn lanes for eastbound and westbound traffic, a dedicated eastbound right-turn lane, bike lanes on S.R. 434 between South Milwee Street and C.R. 427, plus drainage, sidewalk and signalization upgrades. The agency has already purchased the right of way, and Seminole County designed the project.

The proposed changes come with a direct local cost. City records show part of the Walgreens property would be used for the work, moving the roadway closer to the storefront and affecting a stormwater retention pond and the store’s sign. Longwood’s code normally requires signs to sit at least 5 feet from a property line, but the proposal would allow the Walgreens sign to sit about 3.5 feet closer than usual. The plan also calls for a 6-foot fence around the altered retention pond.

Longwood city commissioners were set to consider the proposal Monday, giving the city a chance to weigh the travel benefit against the impact on nearby businesses. City officials said the affected businesses are expected to remain open, but the project could still reduce landscaping buffers, remove some parking spaces and force changes to signage and access.

The timing matters for commuters who already know the intersection as a bottleneck. Drivers in the area described recurring backups and said they often avoid the crossing during busy times. Nearby railroad crossings can make the delays worse, adding another layer of unpredictability to trips across the corridor.

FDOT’s broader S.R. 434 work in Longwood adds to that pressure point. A project handout says two related improvements along the road are expected to begin in summer 2026, including the Ronald Reagan Boulevard intersection project and a companion project at Rangeline Road, Grant Street and Wayman Street. The county project list also includes a separate S.R. 434 corridor study, underscoring that this intersection is part of a larger effort to rework one of Seminole County’s main east-west routes.