State Road 551 follows Goldenrod Road northward from Florida 15 (Narcoosee Road) to Palmetto Avenue at Goldenrod. Palmetto Avenue carries Florida 551 a short distance to its end at Florida 426 (Aloma Avenue). The Goldenrod Road Extension, an OOCEA constructed facility, continues the arterial southward to Florida 528 Toll (Beachline Expressway) at Heintzelman Boulevard. Built at a cost of $38 million, the tolled arterial opened to traffic on March 12, 2003.1
Florida 551 south
The southbound beginning of Florida 551 (Palmetto Avenue) as the road departs Florida 426 (Aloma Avenue) at Goldenrod. This mileage sign likely predates the modern area as it references both Narcoosee and St. Cloud, destinations of current Orange County 15. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Florida 551 (Goldenrod Road) travels south from Florida 552's eastern terminus (Curry Ford Road) through growing areas of unincorporated Orange County Photo taken 02/02/08.
A commercialized intersection joins Goldenrod Road with Pershing Avenue; Pershing Avenue consists of a four-lane divided arterial leading west to Florida 436 (Semoran Boulevard) near Lake George. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Charlin Parkway crosses paths with a signalized intersection at Florida 551 (Goldenrod Road) near Three Points elementary school. The east-west roadway primarily serves adjoining subdivisions. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Goldenrod Road originally ended at junction Florida 15 (Hoffner Avenue), but the roadway saw extension in 2003 to Florida 528 Toll (Beachline Expressway) at Heintzelman Boulevard. A short section of original Goldenrod Road still exists to the east, but the arterial mainline curves southwestward to connect with the new alignment. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Florida 551 comes to an end at junction Florida 551. Technically the state road follows the original Goldenrod Road to the east, but for all intents and purposes, Florida 551 ends here at Florida 15 (Hoffner Avenue). Florida 15 represents a developing corridor as it heads through annexed areas of southeast Orlando via Narcoossee Road. The state road ends at its interchange with Florida 528 Toll, with Orange County 15 continuing into Osceola County. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Goldenrod Road south
Continuing south from Florida 15 and 551, Goldenrod Road carries four lanes with a grassy median to Lee Vista Boulevard. Lee Vista Boulevard represents a fairly new roadway built to serve new commercial and business parks being build in southeast Orlando. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Grassy areas and tree stands lie along Goldenrod Road, awaiting the planned development that the new roadway will support. South of Lee Vista Road, the arterial is essentially tolled, as future Hazeltine National Drive has yet to open. However a u-turn can be made at the future intersection, allowing drivers northbound access away from the toll plaza. Photo taken 02/02/08.
A short distance south of the future Hazeltine National Drive intersection is the Goldenrod Road Extension main line toll plaza. The Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority build the arterial highway at a cost of $38 million. Construction began in 2001 with completion on March 12, 2003. Tolls will pay for the construction of the roadway, and upon recouping its investment, the OOCEA will turn over the roadway to the city of Orlando.1 Photo taken 02/02/08.
The future path of Hazeltine National Drive, looking west from Goldenrod Road. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Approaching the Goldenrod Road toll plaza, all passenger vehicles are charged a 50 cent toll to continue south to junction Florida 528 Toll (Beachline Expressway) and the continuation onto Heintzelman Boulevard. Photo taken 02/02/08.
A six booth plaza, complete with EPass (Sunpass) transponder readers, lies just north of the partial-cloverleaf interchange with the Beachline Expressway (Exit 12). Photos taken 02/02/08.
Immediately south of the toll plaza is the Goldenrod Road westbound on-ramp to Florida 528 Toll. Florida 528 Toll continues west to junction Florida 436 (Semoran Boulevard) and Airport Boulevard south to the Orlando International Airport (MCO) passenger terminal. Interests to the Cargo areas of the airport should use Goldenrod Road south to Cargo Road west. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Florida 528 Toll (Beachline Expressway) heads west to Belle Isle, Florida's Turnpike, the Orange County Convention Center, and junction Interstate 4 near the resort area. Photo taken 02/02/08.
A left-hand turn carries drivers onto Florida 528 Toll eastbound for its exit of the Orlando area en route to Titusville, Cocoa, and the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Florida 528 continues east from Goldenrod Road to junction Florida 15 & Orange County 15 (Narcoosee Road) and Florida 417 Toll (Central Florida Greeneway) before leaving the city limits of Orlando. The Beachline Expressway reaches junction Interstate 95 in 30 miles. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Goldenrod Road transitions into Heintzelman Boulevard at the south end of the Exit 12 interchange with Florida 528 Toll. Cargo Road east becomes Jetport Drive en route to Orange County 15 (Narcoosee Road); Heintzelman Boulevard circumvents the airport center to South Access Road. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Goldenrod Road north
Goldenrod Road begins at the Heintzelman Boulevard intersection with Cargo Road, opposite the Exit 12 partial-cloverleaf interchange of Florida 528 Toll (Beachline Expressway). Departing first is the eastbound on-ramp to Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. Photo taken 02/02/08.
All traffic bound for the Beachline Expressway departs Goldenrod Road northbound in unison. Goldenrod Road otherwise defaults into the OOCEA-maintained toll plaza ahead. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Continuing along the Goldenrod Road northbound ramp to Florida 528 Toll, drivers partition into ramps for eastbound to junction Interstate 95, Cocoa, and Titusville and westbound to Interstate 4 and the Orlando resort area. Photo taken 02/02/08.
A loop ramp carries drivers onto Florida 528 Toll westbound ahead of the directional-cloverleaf interchange with Florida 436 (Semoran Boulevard) and Airport Boulevard. Motorists using the Beachline Expressway between Goldenrod Road and Semoran Boulevard are not levied a toll. Photo taken 02/02/08.
A parting shot of the Goldenrod Road Extension main line toll plaza. All passenger vehicles are charged a 50 cent toll to continue northward to Hazeltine National Drive, Lee Vista Boulevard, and junction Florida 15 and 551. Photo taken 02/02/08.
