Central Florida Tourism Oversight District to Widen Disney World’s Western Way, Improve Interchange With Buena Vista Drive

Shannen Ace

walt-disney-world-entrance-western-way-completed_4-2

Central Florida Tourism Oversight District to Widen Disney World’s Western Way, Improve Interchange With Buena Vista Drive

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District announced two construction projects aimed at improving traffic at Walt Disney World Resort near Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Walt Disney World Roadwork

walt-disney-world-entrance-western-way-completed_4-2

CFTOD opened bidding for engineering firms to participate in an Engineering Forum for the projects. The forum, scheduled for June 11 at 5:30 p.m., will “provide detailed project information, answer questions, and facilitate discussions for firms interested in submitting Letters of Interest (LOI) for professional engineering design services.”

Two roadway design projects will be discussed at the forum:

  1. Buena Vista Drive/Western Way Interchange
  2. Western Way Widening
Satellite map view of Disney World area with labeled attractions, roads, parking lots, and surrounding greenery.
Source: Google Maps

Buena Vista Drive and Western Way intersect outside Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, between Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Above is what the roadways currently look like, via Google Maps. Below is the concept for the interchange improvements.

Aerial map showing a highway interchange with roads, ramps, and surrounding wooded and developed areas.

The update is intended to improve traffic flow through the interchange. It looks like Western Way could be extended to connect to Blizzard Beach Drive, the roadway around the water park’s parking lot. Ramps and bridges would also be constructed.

Aerial map showing the planned Western Way road widening route highlighted in yellow through wooded and developed areas.

Meanwhile, the widening of Western Way would take place along the length of the road, which continues from Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort past Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Flamingo Crossings is located where Western Way meets SR 429. Western Way also leads to the Cast Member-exclusive discount store Cast Connection. Widening the road would hopefully improve traffic congestion for cast and guests.

Details and concepts of the roadway projects could change before final execution. No construction timeline has been announced.

What do you think of these potential roadway improvements? Let us know in the comments.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.