Osceola County begins $36 million construction of Cross Prairie Parkway Connector

Construction is underway on a roughly $36 million road project designed to improve travel through southern Osceola County.The Cross Prairie Parkway Connector will create a 1.6-mile, four-lane connection between Nolte Road and the C-31 Canal.The project includes a bridge, bike lanes, sidewalks, a multiuse path, drainage improvements, streetlights, landscaping and a new traffic signal at Nolte Road.County leaders said Cross Prairie Parkway serves residents in St. Cloud, Kissimmee and southern Osceola County. However, there is currently no direct link between the corridor’s northern and southern sections.Officials said that gap has contributed to traffic delays and public safety concerns because residents and emergency responders must use alternate routes.“One of the issues we’re having is the traffic,” Osceola County resident Rafael Vargas said.Vargas has lived in the Tohoqua Reserve neighborhood for about a year and a half. He said the missing connection complicates his trips to visit h