Western Way???

[jnrrt]

Okay, fill me in. I may be way off base here, but I thought I had read somewhere that Western Way was opening up and somehow was supposed to get us to 75 without having to do I-4 and the turnpike. We saw something called "Western Way" near Coronado Springs.

When we asked about it, no one seemed to know it even existed. We found one cm who had heard a mention of it on the news, but he didn't know where it went or what it was for. We finally found someone after many cm's calling many cm's, and he said that it's just an access road to the back of Coronado Springs, and it certainly was not intended to be an access to 75. We were bummed because it opened while we were there, and were hoping to use it on the way home.

So am I totally off-base here? I could swear I read about that, but maybe not. Anyone have any more info?

[KNWVIKING]

Are you kidding ? After what we had to do to help you find a WalMart or Publix ? Now you want to find an all new highway ? I don't know if I can type that slowwwww....

Yes, the western way is a new road that kinda completes a beltway around WDW. It intersects I-192 just southwest of the AKL area. There is a connector road at CSR that puts you right onto the new road. I think I've read that the new highway is open - or is about to open - and it does link into I-75 so you can avoid I-4 all together.

Better take a big bag of breadcrumbs though.

[jnrrt]

Okay, I'll have you know that I had no trouble finding the Walmart - even from the OTHER DIRECTION (*gasp!!!*) and I found so many Publixes, we were practically swimming in them! Don't know if that was the right place to go swimming, but, anyway...

Of course, now you'll read in my TR (whenever I post it) about how many "tours" we took without really meaning to, and it'll be all over for me.

Well, I'm glad I'm not making things up, anyway, but they were quite certain that it did not connect to 75. So, I'd love to see a map. Of course, now I believe we will only be driving again if, I don't know, planes stop flying or something. It was not fun. But I still wondered.

[KNWVIKING]

Well, it doesn't appear to connect to 75 yet.

https://epass.oocea.com/images/429%20Map%201-27-06.pdf

[KNWVIKING]

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/turnpikepio/Maps/UpdatedMaps2006/westernbeltway.pdf

[Pumpkinboy]

Well, it doesn't appear to connect to 75 yet.

https://epass.oocea.com/images/429%20Map%201-27-06.pdfIt doesn't look like there is any intention of connecting the Western Way up with I-75. It simply connects you up to the Western Connector (FL-429), which will take you up to the Turnpike (which you can then take over to I-75), or down to US-192, and eventually down to I-4 south.

When it makes the final link-up with I-4, I would think it would make a nice shortcut into WDW coming up from the Tampa area, albeit one with tolls; I am sure it was intended to have the same function as 417 currently does for traffic coming southbound on I-4 and from MCO. The new 429, now with the Western Way connection to WDW, will be a nice wide open toll road for folks coming into WDW from the southwest and northwest, I expect.

[KNWVIKING]

Pumpkinboy, you live anywhere near Hawthorn Street ?

[jnrrt]

Wow, ask and ye shall receive. I love maps. Thanks!

I still think it's pretty weird that I talked to seriously, at least 10 cms, and none of them had even heard of it.

[KNWVIKING]

Well, you know... if a CM doesn't know for certain, they are always carefull not to give wrong info. That's how rumors get started.

[Pumpkinboy]

Well, you know... if a CM doesn't know for certain, they are always carefull not to give wrong info. That's how rumors get started. :ROTFL:
Too funny! No sarcasm here, eh. ;)

The CMs in question must live over on the Orange County side of WDW, so no reason to come in from the west. I dunno.

KNWViking, I am actually on the other side of Newton from Hawthorn St, about 4 miles. But we're getting our Easter cake and some amazing cookies from Antoine's, an Italian bakery a few blocks over from Hawthorn.

[Rozzie]

Bump for Gump here! :headscrat

Just going to see if I got this straight:

I-75
Florida Turnpike
Exit 267A -> which is SR 429, will take me into WDW by CSR.

what would be the best way to get to OKW from this point? (creature of habit, used to being dumped into WDW from other side...)

:coolcar: the pleasures of driving!

[ErinC]

Rozzie- Chad and I take 267A but follow the road down to SR535. If you go back and look at the first map the Viking posted, it eventually turns into Wintergarden-Vineland Rd. Its kinda of two lane highway that meanders around to the back of WDW. You hang a right turn by the Disney Service buildings and you come out right at the back of SSR and DTD. We sorta happened upon this route by accident one time. When Disney does the triathalon, this is the bike route (not all the way to the turnpike).