Western Way serves as a key gateway to State Road 429 for Horizon West residents, visitors, and commuters, connecting growing residential communities to major roadways leading toward Orlando. As development continues in the area, traffic congestion has worsened, with drivers navigating unregulated merging points at the highway ramps. The increasing population in Horizon West and south Lake County has led to a steady rise in traffic volume through this intersection, further exacerbating safety concerns. Traversing Western Way during evening hours frequently exceeds 30 minutes, with traffic commonly backed up all the way to Buena Vista Dr.

Vehicle accidents at the intersection are a common sight, and crash data confirms what many drivers experience daily. According to records from the Florida Highway Patrol, at least 34 crashes were documented near the intersection of State Road 429 and Western Way in 2024 alone. This figure does not account for accidents that were not reported to FHP, meaning the actual number of incidents could be even higher.

Jurisdiction over the intersection falls under the Florida Turnpike Enterprise, which is responsible for managing and maintaining this stretch of the Western Beltway. Plans to improve the intersection are included in a larger project to widen SR 429 from north of U.S. 192 to north of Western Way. As part of this effort, the Turnpike Enterprise has proposed installing new traffic signals at the highway ramps to help regulate traffic flow and reduce the risk of collisions.

However, while these improvements are in the design phase, no funding has been allocated for construction within the Turnpike’s current five-year work program. Without a firm commitment to funding, the timeline for these safety upgrades remains uncertain. While project schedules are subject to change, the lack of financial backing suggests that relief for drivers using this intersection is not coming anytime soon.

Compounding the issue, traffic at this critical junction is expected to worsen as multiple infrastructure projects bring even more vehicles onto Western Way. The planned Flemings Road connector to Sawgrass Bay Boulevard and the future SR 516 toll road, which will link SR 429 to SR 27, are expected to increase the strain on this already congested intersection.

Until improvements are made, drivers should remain extra cautious when navigating the intersection, particularly during peak traffic hours. Paying close attention to merging traffic, yielding properly, and reducing speed in congested areas can help minimize risks.