If you drive through Horizon West, there are some major road changes ahead.
Orange County is moving forward with several transportation projects around Ficquette Road, Summerlake Park Boulevard, Seidel Road and Reams Road, including two new roundabouts, miles of road widening and other improvements designed to address traffic and safety as the area continues to grow.
The downside? Some of these projects won’t be finished until 2028 and beyond.
Here’s what Horizon West residents need to know.
Ficquette Road Widening Is Underway
One of the area’s biggest transportation projects is the widening of Ficquette Road from Ingelnook Drive to south of Summerlake Park Boulevard.
Approximately 1.8 miles of Ficquette Road will be widened from two lanes to four lanes, with two travel lanes in each direction.
Plans also include:
- A raised and landscaped median
- A multi-use path along the west side
- A sidewalk along the east side
- New drainage improvements
- Roadway lighting
- Landscaping
Construction activity began this summer, including drainage work and excavation around Reams Pond.
The project is currently expected to be completed in Q2 2028.
Two Roundabouts Are Coming to Summerlake Park Boulevard
Perhaps the biggest change for drivers will be the addition of two roundabouts along Summerlake Park Boulevard.
While both will impact the same general corridor, they are part of separate transportation projects.
Roundabout #1: Ficquette Road, Reams Road & Summerlake Park Boulevard
The complicated intersection where Ficquette Road, Reams Road and Summerlake Park Boulevard come together will be redesigned.
As part of the Ficquette Road project, the roadway will be realigned and a new roundabout will be constructed at the intersection.
The goal is to improve traffic flow and safety while eliminating the current configuration drivers navigate today.
Roundabout #2: Seidel Road & Summerlake Park Boulevard
Another roundabout is planned just down the road at Seidel Road and Summerlake Park Boulevard.
Construction preparations are beginning in September 2026, including utility relocation, tree trimming and the delivery of construction materials.
The approximately $1.47 million project also includes:
- Sidewalks
- Drainage improvements
- Roadway lighting
- Signage
- Pavement improvements
Traffic is expected to remain open during construction, although drivers should anticipate lane shifts and changing traffic patterns.
Completion is currently expected in Q4 2027.
Why Roundabouts?
Orange County has identified traffic congestion at the Seidel Road intersection as an issue, particularly during the afternoon rush.
The two roundabouts are intended to keep vehicles moving while reducing speeds through the intersections, rather than creating additional signalized stops along this section of the corridor.
Once both projects are completed, drivers traveling along Summerlake Park Boulevard will encounter a roundabout at Seidel Road and another at Ficquette Road/Reams Road.
Reams Road Widening Is Still Coming, But the Timeline Has Been Pushed Back
For residents waiting for Reams Road relief, there’s good news and bad news.
The project is funded and still moving forward, but completion is now much farther away.
Orange County plans to widen approximately 2.8 miles of Reams Road from south of Summerlake Park Boulevard to Taborfield Avenue from two lanes to four.
The project includes:
- Four travel lanes
- A raised median
- Sidewalks
- A 14-foot multi-use trail
- Drainage and stormwater improvements
- Roadway lighting and landscaping
- A new bridge south of Greenbank Boulevard
- Wildlife crossing accommodations
Construction is currently expected to begin in Q1 2027, with completion projected for the end of 2030.
The project has faced right-of-way and utility coordination challenges, including the relocation of infrastructure that conflicts with the planned roadway improvements.
The Big Picture for Horizon West
There is a lot happening within a relatively small section of Horizon West, and several of these projects will overlap.
Seidel Road/Summerlake Park Boulevard Roundabout
Expected completion: Q4 2027
Ficquette Road Widening + Ficquette/Reams/Summerlake Roundabout
Expected completion: Q2 2028
Reams Road Widening
Construction expected to begin: Q1 2027
Expected completion: End of 2030
That means residents should prepare for several years of overlapping construction throughout this part of Horizon West.
The payoff will eventually be a much different transportation network, with expanded four-lane corridors, new pedestrian and multi-use paths, improved intersections and two roundabouts moving traffic along Summerlake Park Boulevard.
For a community that has watched traffic increase alongside rapid residential growth, these projects have been a long time coming. Now, the next challenge will be getting through the construction years before the improvements are finally complete.
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