Horizon West Road Construction: The Reams Road Lane Change for Monday

Quick Answer

Orange County has temporarily converted the dedicated turn lane on Reams Road at Ficquette Road and Summerlake Park Boulevard into a shared through-and-turn lane. The change is part of the Ficquette Road widening and roundabout work. Drivers should expect delays, follow the posted markings, and allow extra time on Monday morning.

Reams Road lane change at a glance

• What changed: The dedicated Reams Road turn lane at Ficquette Road and Summerlake Park Boulevard is now a temporary shared through-and-turn lane.
• Roundabout there: Planned for the center of that intersection, not built yet.
• Seidel Road: Utility relocation for the roundabout continues for several more weeks, and no roundabout is open.
• Path closures: Intermittent through November on Summerlake Park Boulevard between Porter Road and Key West Dove Street.
• Timelines (approximate): Seidel roundabout through Q4 2027, Ficquette Road through Q2 2028, Reams Road widening through Q1 2030.

If you drive through Horizon West on Monday morning, the intersection of Ficquette Road, Reams Road, and Summerlake Park Boulevard will look different. Orange County Public Works released its November 2026 construction update, and the headline change is a temporary lane shift there.

This is not a new road opening, and it is not the start of the Reams Road widening. It is a temporary pattern for the Ficquette Road widening and roundabout work. Horizon West Happenings reported the lane change on Nov 3, and HorizonWestInfo reported on Nov 5 that the new configuration is now in place. The county also reports utility work at Seidel Road and intermittent path closures on Summerlake Park Boulevard.

What changed at Ficquette, Reams, and Summerlake Park?

On Reams Road, the dedicated turn lane at Ficquette Road and Summerlake Park Boulevard is now a shared through-and-turn lane. A county-style diagram shared by HorizonWestInfo shows a temporary lane closure on the Reams Road approach and a temporary through-and-turn lane in its place. Drivers in that lane can go straight or turn, instead of turning only. The future roundabout is shown in the center, but it is not built yet.

The county calls the change temporary and tied to ongoing construction. Drivers should watch the signs and lane markings, expect delays while motorists adjust, and use extra caution through the intersection. That matters here because Ficquette, Reams, and Summerlake Park meet at one junction, with Crest Palm Avenue nearby. A lane that used to mean one thing now means something else, so follow the markings in place that day rather than driving from habit. If you use this route to reach Winter Garden, Hamlin, or State Road 429, allow extra time for the first few trips. For background on the project, see my earlier post on the Ficquette Road widening and two roundabouts.

What does a shared through-and-turn lane mean on Monday morning?

A shared lane does two jobs at once. Some drivers will go straight. Others will turn. That is different from a dedicated turn lane, where every driver is turning.

Do not assume the car ahead is turning, and do not rush a turn across oncoming traffic. Signal early if you are turning. Stay in the marked lane and keep a steady speed if you are going straight. Expect delays at peak times, when school and work traffic overlap.

For the school run, leave a little earlier on Monday and talk through the change with any new driver in the house. The schools page on this site has local school context if you are comparing neighborhoods, but for Monday the point is simple: allow extra time. If you can, give yourself a few extra minutes on the first few trips, until the new pattern feels familiar.

What is happening at Summerlake Park Boulevard and Seidel Road?

Work also continues on the future roundabout at Summerlake Park Boulevard and Seidel Road. Through October, crews relocated utilities to prepare the area, and the county says several more weeks of utility relocation work remain. No roundabout is open there yet.

Orange County approved a $1.47 million construction project for this roundabout in May 2026, according to Horizon West Happenings and GrowthSpotter. The project includes sidewalk, drainage, lighting, and other improvements along the Seidel Road corridor. If you live in Summerlake, this is the roundabout closest to home.

What about the path closures on Summerlake Park Boulevard?

Walkers, runners, and bikers on Summerlake Park Boulevard should expect intermittent path closures throughout November. The affected section runs between Porter Road and Key West Dove Street.

The closures are tied to the utility work for the Seidel Road roundabout. A path open one day can be closed the next while crews are in that stretch. The county does not give a day-by-day list, so watch for posted notices and have an alternate route in mind.

What is the Reams Road widening, and why is it listed separately?

The Reams Road widening is separate from this lane change, and the two are easy to confuse. The lane change is part of the Ficquette Road project. The Reams Road widening would widen Reams Road from two lanes to four, from south of Summerlake Park Boulevard to Taborfield Avenue, a 2.8 mile stretch according to the county.

The county page describes a five-foot sidewalk on the south side, a 14-foot multiuse trail on the north side, plus drainage, lighting, and landscaping. The November update lists no new construction activity for that project, and its county status is right of way acquisition in progress.

If you are buying or selling near Reams Road, that distinction matters. A temporary shift at the north end is not the start of a multi-year widening. The buyer's guide walks through questions to ask near a long construction corridor, and the AS IS contract page and inspection period page explain two contract steps after an offer. If you want to talk through a specific street, contact me and we can look at the timing together.

How long will all of this take?

The county's November schedule lists three timelines, all approximate and subject to change. The Seidel Road roundabout is currently scheduled through the fourth quarter of 2027. Ficquette Road widening and its roundabout is currently scheduled through the second quarter of 2028. Reams Road widening is currently scheduled through the first quarter of 2030.

For county segments G, H1, and H2, Ficquette covers about 1.8 miles, from south of Ingelnook Drive to south of Summerlake Park Boulevard. The county page describes two 11-foot lanes each direction, separated by a raised, grassed median, with a multi-use path on the west side and a five-foot sidewalk on the east.

The project also realigns the S-curve at Ficquette, Reams, and Summerlake Park, adds the roundabout there, and adds improvements at Old Thicket Trace, New Independence Parkway, and the Deputy Scott Pine Community Park entrance, plus new stormwater ponds, lighting, and landscaping.

How can drivers and walkers plan around it?

On Monday, treat the Reams Road approach as a new pattern, even if you drive it daily. Follow the lane markings, expect a slower first pass, and leave a few extra minutes.

For Seidel Road, expect utility work for several more weeks. For Summerlake Park Boulevard between Porter Road and Key West Dove Street, check the posted path notices before you set out, and have an alternate route in mind for November.

The county publishes these updates monthly. The project pages for Ficquette Road and Reams Road are the places to check for scope and status, and the monthly newsletter is the place to check for the next traffic change. Slow down through the intersection, follow the signs, and give the new pattern a few trips to settle in. Related reading: Living in Waterleigh.

Frequently asked questions

What changed on Reams Road at Ficquette Road?
The dedicated turn lane on Reams Road at the Ficquette Road and Summerlake Park Boulevard intersection was temporarily converted into a shared through-and-turn lane. A county-style diagram also shows a temporary lane closure on the Reams Road approach. The change is part of the Ficquette Road widening and roundabout work.

Is the roundabout at Ficquette, Reams, and Summerlake Park open?
No. The future roundabout is shown on the diagram, but it is not built yet. The lane change is a temporary construction step to keep traffic moving while work continues around the intersection.

What is happening at Summerlake Park Boulevard and Seidel Road?
Crews spent October relocating utilities to prepare for a future roundabout at Summerlake Park Boulevard and Seidel Road. The county reports that several more weeks of utility relocation work remain. No roundabout is open there yet.

Are there path closures on Summerlake Park Boulevard in November?
Yes, intermittent closures are expected throughout November along Summerlake Park Boulevard between Porter Road and Key West Dove Street. The closures are tied to utility work for the Seidel Road roundabout. Watch for posted notices and plan an alternate route when a closure is in place.

When will the Ficquette, Seidel, and Reams projects finish?
According to the county's November 2026 schedule, the Summerlake Park Boulevard and Seidel Road roundabout is currently scheduled through the fourth quarter of 2027, Ficquette Road widening and its roundabout through the second quarter of 2028, and Reams Road widening through the first quarter of 2030. All three dates are approximate and subject to change.

Sources: Horizon West Happenings, "Horizon West Road Construction Updates: November 2026" (Nov 3, 2026, summarizing the Orange County Public Works November 2026 update); Orange County project pages for Ficquette Road segments G, H1 and H2 and Reams Road; the Orange County newsroom release of Jan 28, 2026; HorizonWestInfo (Nov 5 and 6, 2026); and GrowthSpotter. Checked Nov 9, 2026. Dates and timelines are approximate and subject to change; the county status text on its project pages is older than the November update. Photos by Mike Vein, taken in August 2026 before the lane change.

Mike Vein | Orlando | REALTOR
eXp Realty
(407) 612-2722
Realty@MikeVein.com

Mike Vein, REALTOR® | eXp Realty | Florida license SL3610199