Now a Country Drive, But Soon a Major Connector to Opportunity

Schofield Road has re-opened and now connects Horizon West with Lake County! The bumpy clay road has been replaced with a smooth-as-silk, freshly paved connection to U.S. 27. Spanning approximately 6.5 miles, Schofield runs from Avalon Road in Horizon West’s Town Center all the way through to U.S. 27 near the entrance to Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont.

“Just drove it! What a beautiful drive!” says long-time resident Jessica Heefner.

Residents are celebrating not only the beauty, but the convenience of enhanced connectivity and access provided by the newly refinished road. Construction began in October 2021 and residents have been eagerly awaiting completion to save time on their commutes and trips to places along U.S 27 and northbound up to Route 50 in Clermont.

Before it’s completion, Horizon Westers could drive north on Avalon Road (to just outside of Horizon West) to pick up Hartwood Marsh Road and head west to U.S. 27. But that’s quite a bit further and with population booming in the southern HW villages along Avalon, it would not be sustainable for much longer.

Resident Yuri Naples commented in the Horizon West Happenings Community Facebook group about how that the newly paved road is already speeding up his shopping errands, “25 min from Overlook in Hamlin to BJ’S on 27 yesterday.”

Where Will the New Roads Take Us?

The completion of this east-west connector is a sign of both how far we’ve come as well as a glimpse into the future.

Schofield Road is just one of several corridors connecting the ever-growing Horizon West community with the next up-and-coming communities in Lake County. Flemings Road will eventually connect to Sawgrass Bay Boulevard further to the south of Horizon West, which will eventually provide access from U.S. 27 through to Walt Disney World via Western Way.

New Independence Parkway will also be extended to reach Lake County at which point its name will change to Wellness Way. This is not to be confused with the 16,000-acre, master planned area of the same name slated for the area between the U.S 27 and Lake/Orange border. The Wellness Way development has goals to transform the area into a hub for high-tech and high-wage industries. Part of that includes the Olympus project, which plans to create a community dedicated to health and wellness.

These new connectors are more than just roads. They offer Horizon Westers enhanced access to new developments and services, employment opportunities, and they can stimulate economic growth for our region. Infrastructure improvements like this help foster regional connectivity that ultimately enriches the quality of our lives by creating exciting possibilities for residents in both Orange and Lake counties.

About the Author

Leah is our resident researcher and expert editorial writer for Horizon West Happenings’ Community Engagement Team. When she’s not creating content for the residents of Horizon West, you can find her playing at Disney parks around the world or scoping out the hottest healthy eats and trends in the Orlando area.

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