The Orange County Board of County Commissioners has approved the Amended and Restated Silverleaf Road Network Agreement, committing $5 million in county funding to accelerate construction of the New Independence Parkway extension. The agreement was executed with developers Jen Florida 36, LLC and Hamlin Partners at Silverleaf, LLC.

The extension, which connects CR 545/Avalon Road west to the Lake County line, is a key infrastructure project for the Horizon West area. While design, engineering, and permitting are already complete and the necessary right-of-way is being secured, full construction funding from developers is not yet available. The County’s $5 million contribution, along with $2.5 million from the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX), is intended to bridge this funding gap and prevent further cost increases.

With this public-private funding framework in place, construction could begin within the next few months. The Parkway is expected to relieve traffic congestion and enhance connectivity in Horizon West, supporting both residential and commercial growth in the area. The new connection will provide a more direct route to SR 429 from SR 27, providing significant relief of Schofield Road.

The agreement also adjusts trip allocations and roadway segmentation along CR 545/Avalon Road, in part due to ongoing intersection improvements at Porter Road. The Roadway Agreement Committee reviewed and recommended approval of the updated agreement on March 12, 2025.