Orange County Commissioner Nicole Wilson has announced a series of flood mitigation measures and roadway improvements for the Reams Road area following an extensive discussion at the February 11 BCC meeting. These efforts aim to address persistent flooding concerns and improve road safety for residents in Horizon West.

Among the immediate improvements, enhanced pre-storm preparation and maintenance activities are scheduled to be completed by late summer. Additionally, an asphalt overlay will be applied to a particularly low-lying section near Greenbank Boulevard, providing a short-term solution to recurring flooding issues.

Stronger stormwater and drainage standards will be enforced for all development in the area, ensuring new construction does not contribute to existing problems. Furthermore, a temporary halt will be placed on any developments involving wetland or floodplain impacts, preventing further strain on the region’s drainage system. These changes to drainage standards and wetland impacts are moving forward through an ordinance process, though no date has been set for the public hearing to formally adopt them.

Long-term improvements are also in the pipeline, including the elevation and expansion of Reams Road, safety enhancements, and an expansion at the intersection of Summerlake Park Boulevard and Reams Road. Construction on expanding Ficquette Road, which includes the intersection with Reams Road and Summerlake Park Blvd, is expected to begin later this year, while the Reams Road expansion was delayed to mid-2026 to start construction.

In addition to these measures, the Orange County Public Works Department has been addressing ongoing traffic concerns in the area. Recent modifications to the intersection at Reams Road, Ficquette Road, and Summerlake Park Boulevard have caused delays, particularly due to the addition of turn lanes into the Windermere Palms community.

Traffic signal timing adjustments have also been made to improve flow at the intersection, though further discussions regarding potential temporary intersection reconstruction are ongoing within the Public Works Department. As such, the right-turn lane from Summerlake Park Boulevard onto Seidel Road has been extended to add capacity, addressing congestion concerns at this busy intersection.