LOCAL

Gov. Scott vetoes $7 million for County Road 437 in Sorrento

Carlos E. Medina / cmedina@dailycommercial.com

Florida Gov. Rick Scott vetoed several local projects, including $7 million for a road in Sorrento and Mount Plymouth in east Lake County. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser)

Right now, a trip through the Sorrento/Mount Plymouth area on County Road 437 requires drivers to make two 90-degree turns onto and off of County Road 46.

With traffic along those roads expected to increase thanks to the Wekiva Parkway project now under construction, county officials sought $7 million from the state to build a meandering connection between the separated road.

The measure, sponsored by Republican State Rep. Jennifer Sullivan, who represents part of east Lake County, made it into the final budget sent to Florida Gov. Rick Scott. But Scott used his veto power to nix the $7 million.

"I am extremely disappointed. The opening of the Wekiva Parkway will alter traffic patterns, which in turn burden our local roads, and the realigning CR 437, sooner than later, would have helped tremendously. Without this appropriation, it will take much longer to get this much-needed project completed," said Leslie Campione, Lake County commissioner whose district includes the Sorrento/Mount Plymouth area.

The governor defended the veto by stating the project "circumvented the Transportation Work Program evaluation process," according to his letter approving the budget.

The Wekiva Parkway is a 25-mile project that will complete a beltway around Orlando and has a completion date of 2022. Portions of the project are opening as they are completed. The next portion to open is a 5-mile section the runs south of Sorrento/Mount Plymouth. The official opening is set for March 31.

The $7 million price tag for the realignment was the most expensive project that Scott vetoed statewide.

Scott also vetoed $450,000 earmarked to help provide public Wi-Fi along the South Lake Trail in Clermont. The governor deemed the project should get funding at the local level.

Funding for several local projects survived the governor's veto pen.

$1,123,634 to LifeStream Behavioral Health Center for crisis stabilization beds in South Lake and Sumter counties.
$866,058 to Leesburg High School for the revitalization of the school's construction academy.
$750,000 to Lake Technical College for the Center for Advanced Manufacturing.
$250,000 to Lake Sumter State College for the Math Emporium and expansion of the RISE summer math academy.