On Tuesday, Orange County, FL commissioners voted to approve an extension of Kirkman Drive that will cut through the Western side of Universal Orlando Resort’s expansion area, located to the south of the current resort. According to the County, the new stretch of roadway will service a number of expansion projects, including:
Orange County Convention Center: adding an 80,000 square foot ballroom and an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting rooms.
Lockheed Martin: adding 255,000 square feet of office space
University of Central Florida Rosen School of Hospitality: adding a 50,000 square foot building
Universal Orlando Resort: 758 developable acres for parks, resorts, additional attractions, and support facilities.
In addition to providing access to these properties, the new roadway is expected to reduce congestion in International Drive by providing another North-South corridor. The estimated cost for the project is $250-300 million, with $16 million being provided by the state as part of the Florida Job Growth Infrastructure Grant Agreement. Construction is scheduled to begin Summer 2020.